Mango Production & Technology in Bangladesh

Mango (Mangifera indica L.) is one of the most common, important and popular fruits in Bangladesh. It is considered as the ''king of fruits''. Besides, having delicious taste, captivating flavor with multifarious color, it is an excellent source of nutritive values.

Bangladesh is one of the major mango producing countries along with India, Pakistan, Mexico, Brazil, the Philippines, etc. (Alexander, 1989). In Bangladesh, mango occupies about an area of 50,491 ha with a production of 187220 tones according to BBS, 2003. It is now in an increasing trend in area by 112% and in production by 116% in the year of 2000-01 compared to 1984-85 (BBS, 2002).

Mango Production Area in Bangladesh

The main mango growing regions are around Rajshahi, Chapainawabganj, Nawabganj, and Dinajpur. The better varieties of mangoes have exotic names like Fazlee, Langda, Gopalbogh, Himsagar, Khirsapat, Ashhwina, Khisanbogh, Kuapahadi, Lata Bombai, Foria, Bombai, Kohitoor, Laksmanbhog, Mohanbhog, Misribhog etc. Fazli, Lengra, Gopalbhog and Khisrapat are considered to be the premier varieties – food fit for the Gods!

Each has its distinctive flavor and arguments about the superiority of one over the other can get very serious. Though these are table varieties, meant to be relished as cut fruit, there are others that are used for making jam, jelly, squash, chutney, and pickle. The raw green mango is even added to a dal or curry to enhance the flavor.

Once only Chapainawabganj was famous for growing mangoes, but huge mangoes are also produced in Rajshahi district. There are over 270 varieties of sweet edible mangoes in the Rajashahi region alone. Newer groves are being set up and high-quality fruit trees have been planted along the boundaries of the paddy fields.

December to February is when the mango trees blossom. These grafted mango plants quickly start bearing blossoms only a year or two after the planting. Mango growers try hard to nurture and support their young trees during this period. If all goes well at this time of the year the growers can expect a bumper crop of mangoes.

Mango is the leading seasonal cash crop of the northwestern region of Bangladesh and dominates the economy in Rajshahi and Chapainawabganj districts. There is no large industry here. Most of the people are employed for different jobs on the orchards such as nursing, harvesting and packing mangoes for transportation during the season every year

Climate:

The climate of a place is dependent on its latitudes, altitude, temperature and rainfall. Mangoes are grown commercially within an area roughly 30 degree north to 30 degree south latitude. Bangladesh is situated between 20.5 degree to 26.5 degree north latitude. The mango is in general a tropical fruit that grows in the sub-tropical zone too and grows up to an altitude of 4600 feet (1400m) provided there is no high humidity, rain or frost during the flowering period . So, the range of latitude and altitude in Bangladesh is basically good for mango .It does well within a temperature range from 24 to 27 degree centigrade. Bangladesh’s overall mean annual temperature of 18 to 30 degree centigrade, which is quite good for mango production. The amount of rainfall is not so important factor as its intensity and distribution. It can do well in areas having an average rainfall as low as 25 cm to as high as 250 cm. The period of preceding flowering needs to be dry in order to induce flowering in the absence of chilling temperature.

Soil:

Mangoes can be grown on a wide range of soil type, but well drainage deep, fertile loamy soil of high to medium high land is best. pH 5.5-7.5 and water table below 180 cm around the year.

Land preparation:

Mango plantation are made on the selected site after cleaning the land of all wild growth, weeds etc. The seedling/sapling are planted generally during the rains in pit made well-leveled areas.

Planting system:

Square or rectangular for plain land and contour system for hilly areas. One year old seedling obtained through vegetative propagation that are strong , stout, and free from any diseases should be planted.

Variety:

The mangoes of Bangladesh belong mainly to two groups viz: 1.The elite mango varieties propagated through grafting and other vegetative means. Locally known as “Kalam Aam” and 2. Fruits are born by seedling trees locally known as “Guti Aam”. Some of the common varieties grown in Bangladesh are listed below:

Early variety

The varieties which can be harvested within mid May to mid June. E.g,Gopalbhog, Himsagor, Khirsapat, Brindabani and BARI Aam-1.

Mid-season varieties:

The varieties which can be harvested within mid- June to late-June, e g.Lengra,  Misribhog, Krisanbhog, Kohitoor, Lakhanbhog, Daseri and BARI Aam 2-3.

Late varieties:

The varieties which can be harvested within July to mid-August , e.g. Fazli, Ashawina,  Kuapahari, Mohanbhog, Chausa and BARI Aam 4.

Regular bearing varieties:

Neelum, Mollika(Neelum*Daseri)Amropali/BARI Ama-3.

Propagation:

Mango can be raised from seed or vegetatively propagated. Seed propagation is now restricted to raising rootstocks, which are not true to type. To raise rootstock , freshly extracted stones from mature and ripe fruits are sown in beds in lines. These seedlings remain there for a year. When they attain a suitable thickness and height they are propagated asexually by side or veneer either in beds or shifted to a suitable seized earthen or polythene bags and grafted by inarching.

Time of planting:

Mid May to mid-July is the best period for planting and mid-August to mid-October is also good.

Distance:

Planting distance depends upon soil, variety, climate and system of orchard management. However under good management the planting distance for tall varieties 10-12 meters and the dwarf varieties require only 2.5 to 3 meters between the plants and rows 8-10 meters.

Size of pit: 1.0 mX1.0 mX1.0 m.

Manures and Fertilizers:

Manures/Fertilizers	Amount in each pit
Organic manures	18-22 kg
Urea	100-200 g
TSP	450-550 g
MP	200-300 g
Gypsum	200-300 g
Zinc Sulphate	40-60 g

Seedlings planting:

Seedlings should be planted with the soil ball intact at middle of the pit straightly after 10-15 days of filling the pit. After planting, the seedling should be provided with proper fencing, sticks etc.

Fertilizer application:

Yearly recommended fertilizers for mature and fruiting trees are:

Manures/Fertilizers	Amount per plant
Organic manure	50.0 kg
Urea	2.0 kg
TSP	1.0 kg
MP	500 g
Gypsum	500 g
Zinc sulphate	25 g

The fertilizers should be applied into two equal split:one in mid-May to mid-July and other in mid-September to mid-October.

Irrigation:

Frequent irrigation is needed for fast growth of seedlings. The need for irrigation will arise during the drier part of the year from November to April and lesser in summer (May-June). In the bearings trees, once irrigation at the later part of flowering and once irrigation at fruit setting stage (when the fruits are in a pea stage) will be needed. Basin system is best for irrigation.

Pruning:

Mango has no specific pruning schedule, except when trees are young to give them a good shape. All side shoots should be pruned upto a height of 1.0-1.5 m of the main stem. All the inflorescences should also be pruned upto 4 years of the seedlings age.

Intercultural operation;

Intercultural operation  of the mango orchard is necessary not only to remove the weeds which compete for water and nutrients but also to ensure aeration which is essential for the proper development root and shoot. Intercultural operation may help in reducing the pest population by killing them physically.

Maturity indices:

Appearances of wax coating, dots on the fruits, relative size of the fruits are some of the external appearances of the fruits which indicate maturity. However some ripened fruits when start dropping.it is said that maturity of that particular variety is reached.

Harvesting:

Mango fruits are rarely allowed to ripen on trees .Fruits may be harvested at the time when they show a slight yellowish color around the fruit stalk or when the specific gravity reaches 1.01 to 1.02 or when naturally one or two ripe fruits start dropping from the plant. Mango should be harvested without any injury. Generally fruits with stalk intact are harvested by hand or with the help of a bag affixed on along pole from the tall trees.

Yield:

The yield of mango varies with the variety, productivity of  flowering , growing condition influencing the size of the plants etc. The young trees, in the beginning, bear 15 to 20 fruits per year which increases to an average of 400 to 600 fruits in the 10^thyear and to 2500-5000 fruits per tree after 20^th year. The average fruit production in Bangladesh is 4.76 t/ha which is quite low compared to India (8-10 t/ha) as well as to the world production of 14-16 t/ha.

Diseases:

• Leaf spot disease
• Red rust disease
•  Red leaf spot disease
• Blight
• Anthracnose/die-back
• Powdery mildew disease
• Sooty mold disease
• Scab disease
• Malformation
• Fruit rot
• Loranthus

Insects:

1.    Mango hopper

2.    Shoot-gall Psyllid of mango

3.    Mango fruit weevil

4.    Mango fruit fly

5.    Mango defoliator

6.    Mango stem borer

7.    Mango leaf gall-forming insects

SPECIAL PROBLEM:

Malformation :

Malformation is a serious threat to mango production. It affects both the vegetative parts and the inflorescence. Malformed branches show stunted growth, with small and bunchy leaves; this disorder is thus called bunchy top. Most of the flowers on malformed inflorescences are male and fruit is hardly ever obtained from them. The cause is not yet known but viruses, fungi, mites and deficiency of element have all been considered as possible causes. Good management reduces the problem to some extent.

Alternate bearing:

Most of the commercial varieties of mango tend to produce crops in an alternate or biennial patter. Alternate bearing in fruit trees is the habit of bearing heavily in one year called the on year and very little or not all in the second year called the off year. The factors affecting it are environmental, physiological and genetic.