Professional Documents
Culture Documents
fertilizer recommendations on
MANGO
(Mangifera indica)
Contents:
1. General features ……………………………………………………….……………………………………….....… 2
2. Main factors affecting mango production ……………….……………………………………….......… 2
3. Plant nutrition ………………………………………………….…………………………………………………..... 3
4. Fertilizer recommendations ……………………………………………………………………………..…… 3
5. References .......................................................................................................................................................... 5
1. General features
Mango (Mangifera indica, L.) belongs to the family of Anacardiaceae.
It is an perennial crop: life cycle depends on the geographical area where it grows but generally it can be
divided in four stages as shown in figure 1:
Figure 1 – Productive life cycle of Mango plants
Its origin is in the Indomalayan region and now it is one of the most cultivated fruit crops in the tropical and
sub‐tropical areas.
Global production of mango in 2010 overcome 30 million tonnes, mainly subdivided in Asia and the Pacific
region (78%), Latin America and the Caribbean (13%) and Africa (9%). In 2010 India was the largest world
mango producing nation, accounting for 40% of total global output, while the most significant increase in
mango production was China and Mexico in Asia and the Pacific region and Latin America and Caribbean
respectively.
In Peru mango production covered 16 500 ha in 2008 in the regions of Piura (75%), Lambayeque (19%) and
Ancash (6%). The main varieties cultivated in Peru are Kent (82%), Haden (11%) and T. Atkins (7%).
Average yields range between 7.5 and 15 Mt/ha.
2. Main factors affecting mango production
Mango prefers clay‐loam soils, well drained with a pH between 5 and 7. It grows at altitudes ranging
between 0 and 1 200 m a.s.l. Optimal mean temperatures are 20‐26°C.
It is important that two conditions are respected to ensure a good production:
At least 3 months of dry during the flowering stage;
A mean temperature of 24‐26°C during the ripening stage.
2
In Peru crop cycle follows the scheme shown in figure 2:
Figure 2 – Crop cycle of mango in Peru
3. Plant nutrition
In literature data referred to leaf analysis, nutrient uptake and removal are very heterogeneous:
however in table 1, 2 and 3 average values of plant nutrient analysis and removal are reported. Generally
the ratio N:P:K is 1:0.5:1.2.
Table 1 – Plant Analysis – Macronutrients (% of dry matter)
N P K Ca Mg S
1.0‐1.2 0.1‐0.2 0.8‐1.2 2.0‐3.3 0.2‐0.3 0.1‐0.2
Table 2 – Plant Analysis – Micronutrients (mg/kg of dry matter)
Fertilizer Nutrient content (kg/100 kg of product)
N P2O5 K2O SO3 MgO
Progress Micro 6 5 13 10 2
Fertil 12.5 ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐
Ilsa fertilizers are characterized by slow release of the organic Nitrogen: Nitrogen is released mainly in the
first period, then its release is lower but constant; periodical applications ensure a constant availability of
Nitrogen.
A feasible Ilsa fertilizer program is synthesized in table 6.
Table 6 – Ilsa fertilizer program
Dose Nutrient amount (g/plant/year)
Fertilizer
(kg/plant/year) N P2O5 K2O MgO S
PROGRESS MICRO min. 2.5 150 125 325 50 250
max. 5 300 250 650 100 500
FERTIL min. 1.5 190 ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐
max. 1 125 ‐ ‐ ‐ ‐
Total nutrient amount min. 340 125 325 50 250
(g/plant/year)
max. 425 250 650 100 500
4
5. References
IFA, 1992. IFA World Fertilizer Use Manual. International Fertilizer Industry Association, Paris.
Van Ee S., 1999. Fruit Growing in the Tropics. Agromisa Foundation, Wageningen, 1999.
Griesbach J., Mango growing in Kenya.
Xiuchong Z., Guojian L., Jianwu Y., Shaoying A. And Lixian Y., 2001. Balanced Fertilization on Mango in
Southern China. Better Crops International, Vol. 15, N. 2, 2001.
Avilan L., Fertilizacion del Mango en el Tropico. Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Agropecuarias,
Maracay, Venezuela.
Kumar N., 2007. Training Manual on “Role of Balanced Fertilization for Horticultural Crops”,
H o r t i c u l t u r a l C o l l e g e a n d R e s e a r c h I n s t i t u t e Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Coimbatore,
Sponsored by I n t e r n a t i o n a l P o t a s h I n s t i t u t e Switzerland