The role of training systems in maintaining higher density mango orchards.
Fivaz J., Stassen P. J. C.
Author Affiliation: Institute for Tropical and Subtropical Crops, Private Bag X 11208, Nelspruit 1200, South Africa.
: 407-412
Abstract : Poor yields of mango orchards in the initial years can be caused by wide tree spacing and the subsequent time lag in filling the allocated tree space. Higher density plantings, and associated tree management for attaining a complex tree with high orchard productivity more quickly, is currently a favoured cultural method. Training systems, with possible benefits for more intensive orchards when overshadowing occurs, were investigated in mango cv. Sensation plantations at Nelspruit, South Africa. Open vase, palmette, central leader, closed vase and a standard pruning system were compared with unpruned controls, and the principles of the different systems are discussed. The effects of the different training systems are tabulated. Pruning reduced yields during the trial, although it is predicted that this will change in the following 2 seasons, when the untreated trees overshadow each other and the pruned trees reach maximum yields for their allocated space.