Advancing Alphonso mango harvest season in lateritic rocky soils of Konkan region through manipulation in time of paclobutrazol application

M.M. Burondkar, Shailendra Rajan, K.K. Upreti, Y.T.N. Reddy, V.K. Singh, S.N. Sabale, M.M. Naik, P.M. Nigade and Pooja Saxena

Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli, Maharashtra. Central Institute of Subtropical Horticulture, Rehmankhera, Lucknow. Indian Institute of Horticultural Research, Bangalore, India.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.37855/jah.2013.v15i03.34

Key words: Early season, Alphonso, mango, lateritic rocky area, Konkan, paclobutrazol, flowering, harvesting season
Abstract: The present study, aimed at advancing Alphonso mango harvest season through manipulation in time of soil application of paclobutrazol (PBZ) [soil application on 15th of May, June, July, and August]; foliar spray of KNO3 (3%) [August and September], was conducted during 2010 to 2012 cropping seasons in red lateritic rocky soil of Konkan (Maharashtra, India). Results of individual years and mean for three years revealed that significant earliness in flowering (85.4 day) and advancement in harvesting (82 day) was achieved with the application of PBZ on 15th May. PBZ application on 15th June was relatively less effective in inducing early flowering (56 day) and harvesting (69 days). However, the greater extent of flowering (72.23 %) and fruit yield per tree (40.72 kg/tree) were recorded with PBZ applied at recommended time i.e., on 15th August. Individual fruit weight was higher in KNO3 sprayed tree in the months of August (268g) and September (265.5 g), whereas fruit T.S.S. was higher (19.37 oBrix.) in trees receiving PBZ on 15th August. The findings of study indicated huge potential for realizing about 5-6 times higher returns from Alphonso produced in February-March months as compared to May harvest.



Journal of Applied Horticulture