Effect of different levels of micronutrients on vegetative growth, yield and fruit quality of Mango (Mangifera indica L.)

An experiment was carried out to ascertain the impact of foliar application of certain micro-nutrients on fruit yield and quality of Mango (Mangifera indica L.) cultivars "Dashehari" and "Langra" at Agriculture Research Station, Banswara, Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur, Rajasthan, during the year 2016-17 on seventeen years old mango trees. The experiment was laid out in One way ANOVA (Randomized Block Design) with eight treatments in thrice replications for combinations with different micronutrients Zinc sulphate, Copper sulphate, Borax, boric acid and IIHR-2 mango special were applied on mango cultivars "Dashehari" and "Langra" at different growth stages. All were fertilized with a recommended dose of NPK (1500:500:1000 g as N, P2O5 and K2O). The spraying was done twice; during mid-October, mid-December, and mid-February before the flowering stage and again in mid-March at the marble stage during both years of study. Foliar sprays, in general, improved fruit yield. Yields were exceptionally higher in response to foliar application of Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu) and boron (B) compared to other treatments. Result proved that foliar application of mango trees with [(RDF + Zinc sulphate (100 g) + Copper sulphate (50 g) + Boric acid (50 g) as soil + Zinc sulphate (0.2%) + Copper sulphate (0.1%) + Boric acid (0.1%) as foliar (Two sprays before flowering and marble stage)] was the promising treatment for improvement of vegetative growth, yield and fruit quality. This treatment was also found best for maximum total carotenoids, average fruit weight as well as fruit yield.