Cultivation Of Mango In Ultra High Density Planting Introduction Mango occupied a pre-eminent place amongst the fruit crops grown in India because of its great utility. Mango exhibits a wide variation in flowering and fruiting habit due to varietal differences and diversity in agro-climatic conditions. India produces world’s largest tonnage of mango. India is the largest producer of mango but the productivity is very low. Low productivity in mango is mainly due to low plant population per hectare, absence of scientific methods of irrigation, inefficient nutrient management, improper orchard management practices and losses due to pests and diseases. Mango, so far has been grown either this as a crop with least management efforts and without inputs like irrigation, fertigation etc. And it leads to low productivity in mango. Now it is important to increase the production of mango by adopting the new hi-technology. We need a technology, which gives more production per unit area, for which the theme Ultra-high density planting comes to fore front. Mango cultivation can be revolutionized by the adoption of ultra high density planting system. This planting system heralds a new era where mango becomes quick, high, shrinking land availability. Mango tree is believed to have evolved as a canopy layer species in the tropical rainforest of south and south-east Asia. Mature specimens can attain a height of 30 cm and can survive for more than 100 years. The root system consist of long, vigorous taproot and abundant surface feeder roots. Both male and perfect flowers are found within a single inflorescence. The flowers are cross pollinated by flies and honey bees. Cultivation practices for UHDP Mango can be grown in a wide range of soils except clayey or extremely sandy or rocky calcareous, alkaline or water logged soils. It prefers a soil pH 6.5 to 7.5. Under UHDP, Mango is planted at 3×2 m which accommodates 674 plants per acre. Pit should be marked at 3×2 m before pit digging and pits of 1×1×1m are to be dug at marked places. Alternatively one meter deep and one meter deep and one meter wide trench can be prepared at every three mater. The pits should be allowed to weather for some weeks before filling media. The media consist of 40-50 kg soil, 0.5 -1.0 kg SSP, 0.25 kg neem cake, 20 kg compost, and 10-15 g of Thimet. Plantation is to be raised by using grafted sapling. Epicotyl grafting is recommended for UHDP as the training of the tree starts at a very early stage itself. The bamboo support essential to newly planted grafts. The critical components of UHDP technology are the management of inputs: irrigation and fertilizer and besides the canopy management. These two inputs are provided through drip irrigation systems. Table No. 1: Mango varieties suitable for UHDP State
Varieties
Andhra Pradesh
Alphonso, Alampur, Baneshan, Totapuri
Bihar
Bombai, Himsagar, Langra, Chausa
Goa
Mankaurad
Gujarat
Alphonso, Kesar
Karnataka
Alphonso, Bangalora, Neelum, Mallika