Effect of pruning in mango (Mangifera indica L.) cv Mallika.
Lal B., Dushayant Mishra
Author Affiliation: Central Institute for Subtropical Horticulture, Rehmankhera, P.O. Kakori, Lucknow - 227 107, India.
Journal of Tropical Forestry 26 : 46-49
Abstract : Under north Indian conditions, Mallika is emerging as an important commercial cultivar, because it is a late maturing type. The tree of Mallika attains huge stature and becomes over crowded after about 35-40 years of growth. Effect of pruning in some varieties of mango is documented. Therefore, to study the long term effect of pruning in mango cv Mallika, pruning work was conducted. Trees were subjected to three pruning treatments, viz. T-1 (heading back up to tertiary branches), T-2 (heading back up to secondary branches) and T-3 (centre opening). After eight years of experimentation in pruning trial in mango cv. Mallika the lowest tree height (4.75 m) was recorded in trees with first order pruning treatment followed by 5.10 m in second order pruning treatment. Canopy spread was found at par in all the treatments. New shoots emerged on trees in first and second order pruning treatments showed fast growth and attained more lenght of 2.10 and 2.00 m respectively. Average flowering data of eight years showed that under all the pruning treatments, enhanced flowering (50.63 to 55.32%) was recorded as compared to control (39.50) percent. Cumulative yield data of eight years showed that after treatment applications, maximum fruit yield (456.15 kg tree-1) was obtained from second order pruning treatment followed by first order pruning treatment (425.85 kg. tree-1) while the lowest fruit yield (273.40 kg tree-1) was recorded in un-pruned trees.