Mango Cultivation in India

Mango Cultivation in India

• Mango, scientifically known as Mangifera indica, has been cultivated in India for over 400 years.
• India contributes approximately 56% of the world's total mango production, a figure that has increased since its independence.
• 39.5% is India's contribution to the nation's total fruit production.
• Andhra Pradesh leads in total mango production volume, while Uttar Pradesh has the largest area under mango cultivation.
• Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Gujarat collectively account for about 82% of India's total mango production.

Climate and Soil Requirements

• Mangoes can thrive in diverse soil types and climatic conditions, specifically alluvial and lateritic soils.
• Mangoes do not thrive in black cotton soil due to poor drainage.
• Slightly acidic soils are ideal, with an optimal pH below 7.5.
• Good soil drainage is crucial for mango cultivation.
• Mangoes can be grown up to 1,100 meters above mean sea level.
• Low humidity, rain, and frost are optimal climatic conditions during the flowering stage.
• Temperatures between 24°C and 27°C are optimal for cultivation.
• Higher temperatures result in better quality fruits during fruit development and maturity.
• Locations with frequent showers and high humidity are prone to pests and diseases.
• Rainfall between 25cm and 250cm is ideal for mango cultivation.
• Sunny days and moderate humidity during flowering are ideal for mango growing.

Mango Varieties in India

• India is home to approximately 1,000 mango varieties, mostly resulting from open pollination of chance seedlings.
• Only a few varieties are commercially cultivated.

Commercial Mango Varieties by State

• Andhra Pradesh: Banganapalli, Suvarnarekha, Neelum, Totapuri
• Bihar: Bombay green, Chausa, Dashehari, Fazli, Gulabkhas, Kishen Bhog, Himsagar, Zardalu, Langra
• Gujarat: Kesar, Alphonso, Rajapuri, Jamadar, Totapuri, Neelum, Dashehari, Langra
• Haryana: Chausa, Dashehari, Langra, Fazli
• Himachal Pradesh: Chausa, Dashehari, Langra
• Karnataka: Alphonso, Totapuri, Banganapalli, Pairi, Neelum, Mulgoa
• Madhya Pradesh: Alphonso, Bombay Green, Dashehari, Fazli, Langra, Neelum
• Maharashtra: Alphonso, Kesar, Pairi
• Punjab: Chausa, Dashehari, Malda
• Rajasthan: Bombay Green, Chausa, Dashehari, Langra
• Tamil Nadu: Alphonso, Totapuri, Banganapalli, Neelum
• Uttar Pradesh: Bombay Green, Chausa, Dashehari, Langra
• West Bengal: Fazli, Gulabkhas, Himsagar, Kishenbhog, Langra, Bombay Green

Seasonal Availability of Mangoes

• Mangoes are available from March to mid-August in India.
• North Indian cultivars are alternate-bearing, whereas South Indian cultivars are generally regular-bearing.
• Approximately 20 mango varieties are grown commercially.

Popular Mango Varieties and Their Characteristics

• Alphonso: Grown in Ratnagiri (Maharashtra), parts of south Gujarat and Karnataka; medium-sized (250g), blush, firm, fibreless pulp with orange colour; good sugar-acid blend.
• Banganapalli: Early-maturing from south India, fruits weigh 350-400g, fibreless, firm, yellow pulp with a sweet taste.
• Bombay Green: Early variety from north India, fruits weigh about 250g, soft and sweet pulp.
• Chausa: Late-maturing north India variety, matures in July-August, fruits weigh about 350g, bright yellow, soft and sweet pulp.
• Dashehari: Mid-season variety from north India, medium-sized fruit, sweet, firm, and fibreless pulp.
• Fazli: Late-maturing(August) mango from Bihar and West Bengal, large fruits, fibreless pulp.
• Gulab Khas: Mid-season mango from Bihar, small to medium-sized fruits, ambre-yellow with reddish blush.
• Himsagar: Regular-bearing mango from West Bengal, medium-sized fruits, firm, yellow flesh.
• Kesar: Irregular-bearing mango from Gujarat (Saurashtra), attractive apricot-yellow colour with red blush.
• Kishenbhog: Mid-season mango from West Bengal, medium to large-sized fruits, firm flesh with few fibres.
• Langra: Biennial-bearer and mid-season mango from north India, lemon-yellow coloured flesh.
• Mankurad: Mid-season variety from Goa, medium-sized with yellow skin.
• Neelum: Late-season mango from south India, medium-sized fruits, soft, yellow flesh.
• Pairi: Early-maturing, heavy and regular-bearer from coastal Maharashtra and Goa, medium-sized fruits, soft, primuline-yellow flesh.
• Totapuri: Regular and heavy-bearing mango from south India, medium to large fruits, cadmium-yellow flesh.

Mango Hybrids and Their Characteristics

• Mallika (IARI, New Delhi): Neelum x Dashehari, regular-bearer, high TSS, good color, uniform fruits, moderate keeper
• Amrapali (IARI, New Delhi): Dashehari x Neelum, dwarf, regular-bearer, cluster-bearing, small sized fruits, good keeper
• Ratna (FRS, Vengurla): Neelum x Alphonso, regular bearer, free from spongy tissue and fiber
• Sindhu (FRS, Vengurla): Ratna x Alphonso, regular bearer, thin stone
• Arka Puneet (IIHR, Bangalore): Alphonso x Banganapalli, regular bearer, medium sized, free from spongy tissue, good keeper, good sugar acid palette

Mango Propagation

• Mango is a highly heterozygous and cross-pollinated crop
• Mangoes are categorized into polyembryonic types common in South India and monoembryonic types in North India, which require vegetative propagation.
• Mangoes are commonly propagated via rootstock.
• Seeds for rootstock should be extracted and sown within 4-5 weeks to maintain viability.
• Raised beds with farmyard manure, red soil, and sand are used for sowing seeds.
• Polythene bags may also be used to directly sow seeds.
• Seedlings turn green 2-4 weeks after germination and are transplanted to polythene covers with red soil, sand, and farmyard manure.
• Nitrogenous fertilizer helps the quick growth of seedlings.

Mango Grafting Methods

• Inarching: Widely practiced, which gives over 95% success rate.
• Veneer and side grafting: Used for grafted plant material or in-situ grafting.
• Epicotyl/stone grafting: Common in the Konkan region of Maharashtra, using 8-15 day old germinated seedlings.

Mango Cultivation Practices

• Planting systems used are square, rectangular and hexagonal.
• Planting season is from June to September.
• Soil needs to be brought to fine tilth.
• Pits of 1m x 1m x 1m size are dug and exposed to sun for about 30 days.
• Pits are filled with well-rotten farmyard manure before planting.
• Grafts are planted during the rainy season.
• The in-situ grafting: Rootstocks are planted in the main field for 6 months to 1 year.
• Grafting is done when humidity is high, covering the scions with polythene.

High-Density Planting

• High-density planting increases yield per unit area.
• Mango Amrapali is suitable for high-density spacing.
• Spacing of 2.5m x 2.5m in North India is recommended.
• Paclobutrazol (2 ml/tree) induces flowering during the off-year.

Post-Planting Care and Management

• Training: An essential practice during the initial years of growth to space branches properly for intercultural operations.
• Manuring and fertilization: Requirements rely on region, soil type, and age.
• An example is, applying a dose of 73g N, 18g P2O2, and 68g K2O per year of age from the first to tenth year, and thereafter a dose of 730g N, 180g P2O5, and 680g K2O in two split doses during June-July and September-October.
• Zinc deficiency is corrected by spraying zinc sulphate (0.3%) during February, March, and May.
• Boron and manganese deficiencies are corrected by spraying Borax (0.5%) after fruit set twice at monthly intervals and 0.5% manganese sulphate after blooming.
• Intercropping: Controls weeds, and reduces loss of nutrients.
• Examples are black gram-wheat-mango and brinjal-onion-mango, which offers better monetary benefits.
• Irrigation: Young plants up to 2 years old should be watered regularly, the newly-planted grafts need about 30 liters of water every week.
• Irrigation during preflowering increases flowering.
• Irrigation after fruit set should be done at a 10-day interval to increase yield.

Harvesting and Postharvest Management

• Mangoes should be harvested with pedicel to avoid fungal attack.
• An average mango tree yields 8 tonnes /ha and bears 1000 to 2000 fruits.
• The north Indian mangoes Langra and Dashehari are alternate-bearers, whereas most south Indian mangoes are regular bearers.
• Mallika and Amrapali are comparatively regular-bearing varieties.
• Packaging in bamboo baskets (50-100 fruits), straw, or perforated cardboard with tissue paper or paper shavings helps maintain quality.
• Green and mature mangoes store better than ripe ones.
• Storage methods include low temperature storage and controlled atmospheric storage.
• The temperature of 5-16°C is ideal for storing different varieties.
• Other methods of preserving mangoes are chemical treatments , irradiation, heat treatment, packaging, and shrink wrapping to increase their shelf-life.
• Chilling injury is indicated by loss of flavour and softening.
• Waxing (3%) with hot-water treatment, individual wrapping, and hydro-cooling increases storage life.