TB-ICN: 151/2015

Directorate of Extension

Calendar of Operations
for Mango Cultivation

M.K. Verma, Manish Srivastav & K. Usha

Division of Fruits and Horticultural Technology

ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute
ICAR
New Delhi-110 012
 Directorate of Extension

Calendar of Operations
for
Mango Cultivation

M.K. Verma
Manish Srivastav
K. Usha

Division of Fruits and Horticultural Technology

ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute
New Delhi-110 012

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Citation
M.K. Verma, Manish Srivastav and K. Usha (2015): Calender of Operations for Mango Cultivation.
Division of Fruits and Horticultural Technology, ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute,
New Delhi-110012.

Printed copies: 500

Acknowledgement
The financial assistance received from NABARD and Directorate of Extension, Krishi Vistar Sadan,
Ministry of Agriculture, Government of India towards printing of publications for Pusa Mango
Day–2015 is gratefully acknowledged.

Edited and Prepared by

M.K. Verma, Manish Srivastav & K. Usha

Published by
K. Usha
Head (Acting)
Division of Fruits and Horticultural Technology
ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute
New Delhi-110012

Printed by
Venus Printers and Publishers, B-62/8, Naraina Industrial Area, Phase-II, New Delhi - 110 028
Tel.: 011-45576780, Mob.: 9810089097, E-mail: pawannanda@gmail.com

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 PREFACE
Mango is the most important fruit crop in India having socio-economic significance. It is known as
king of fruits owing to delicious quality of fruit rich in vitamins and minerals. Ancient Indian valued
mango not merely for its sentiment or religious consideration, but they realized its importance in
economic and cultural life of the society. Understandably, no other fruit has captured the unparalleled
attention of royalty, the masses and unprecedented imagination of the men of letters as the mango.
As a result, mango trees are now the parts of every house hold, can be seen in large orchards, small
orchards, backyards, kitchen garden, hobby gardens, roof gardens etc.

It occupies 35% of the total area under fruits comprising of 2.5 million hectares, with a total
production of 18 million tonnes. Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar, Karnataka,
Kerala and Tamil Nadu are the major producers. In India, productivity is low (7.3 t/ha) as compared
to Brazil and Pakistan.

Technological innovations and subsequent perfections attained through the scientific advancement
are fuelled by the need-based factors. The potential technologies have revolutionized the mango
cultivation. Therefore, this technical bulletin on “Operational calendar for mango cultivation” is aimed to
provide the technological information to the mango growers from establishment of the new orchard
to the full-bearing orchard. It is ready-reckoner contained classified information about farm operation
month-wise. It will help to mango growers for timely performing the necessary farm operations,
effective management of orchards and producing higher yields of quality fruit. Mango orcharding is
only profitable if timely input applications are insured. Therefore, this technical bulletin will help to
growers for successful mango cultivation.

(J.P. Sharma)

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 Calendar of Operations for
Mango Cultivation

Profitability of mango growing mainly depends on timely farm operations. Delay in a single
activity causes huge losses to the growers and results in unprofitable venture. Therefore, scientists
of The Division of Fruits and Horticultural Technology have compiled the month-wise cultural
practies in this document for the benefit of the mango growers. The information is supplemented
with need based digital photographs about insect, pest, diseases and physiological disorders for
their correct identification and management. Therefore, the adoption of such recommendations
will certainly help to the fruit growers for enhancing in their productions, productivity, quality as
well as net returns.

January
 Deblossoming of early emerged panicles to reduce the incidence of mango malformation.
 To control midge insect, spray dimethoate 30 EC (0.6 ml / L) or methyl demeton 25 EC (0.5 ml/
L) or Thioxam 25 (0.4 ml/ L).
 For management of mealy bug, the alkathane tree bands which are generally applied in the
month of December should be cleaned and rearranged, if disturbed.

Symptoms of midge insect of mango

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 Alkathene tree bands on mango tree trunks

 For efficient pollination and fruit set, arrangement of honey bee boxes in the mango orchards
should be undertaken.

New young plants should be protected from frost. Irrigation to new plants should be assured to
minimize the frost damage. Arrangements should also be made to cover the small non-bearing
plants with straw or polyethylene sheets.

February
 To control mango hopper, spray of insecticides like dimethoate (0.5 ml /L) or monocrotophos (0.5
ml/L) or chloropyriphos (0.4 ml/L) or Thioxam (0.4 ml/L) should be done. Precaution should be
taken to avoid the use of single chemical repeatedly. It is also advised that during full flowering,
spray of insecticides should be avoided. This may reduce population of beneficial insects which
help in pollination.

Powdery mildew infection on mango panicle

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 Powdery mildew disease is very common during
flowering. On occurrence of powdery mildew
immediate control measures are necessary. For
successful control of powdery mildew, first spray
of soluble sulphur (2 g/ L) should be done during
February month followed by second spray of Dinocap
(1 ml/L, Karathane) after 10-12 days.

 During this month the panicles having midge

insect infestation should be removed from the
plant using sharp knife.

 The alkathane tree bands applied in the month

of December should be again cleaned and
rearranged, if disturbed.
Malformed panicles
If there are any remains of malformed panicles on
the plants, the same should be removed manually and destroyed.

March
 To control powdery mildew, spray of Dinocap (1 ml/L Karathane) should be done.

 To control anthracnose disease, spray of carbendazim (2g /L) is advisable if symptoms are seen
on the panicles. The spray of copper oxychloride (3 g/L) is advised for control of anthracnose on
leaves and twigs.

 In general, spray of insecticide during flowering should be avoided.

Anthracnose disease on mango

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 In general, spray of insecticide during flowering should be avoided. Because, it will wash way
pollen grains as well as kill the pollinating insects (beneficial insects).

April
 Fruit drop is very common during this month. This problem can be managed by spray of
Naphthalene Acetic Acid (NAA) (20 ppm- i.e. 2 g/100 litres of water) when fruits attain pea
size.

 Arrangements should be made for 2-3 sprays of micronutrient mixtures (2 ml/L) having Zn, Cu,
Mn, Fe, B etc. at 10-12 days intervals from marble stage.

Pea stage Marble stage

 During in this month the malformed panicles should be cut with sharp and sterile knife and
buried in the soil.

 Termite is also seen on some mango trees. If observed, use Chloropyriphos @ 0.2% (200 ml/100
litres of water).

Termite Attach on Mango Tree Trunk

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 This month is crucial for fruit growth because summers are generally drier months and plants
faces water scarcity and may lead to poor fruit development. Therefore, when fruit attain the pea
size, irrigation should be started and continued at 10-15 days interval.

 If mango hopper attack is seen then spray Chlorpyriphos (1 ml/L or 100 ml/100 litres of water)
or dimethoate (0.5 ml/L or 50 ml/100 litres of water).

 Fruit fly is one of the serious pests of mango which deteriorates the fruits by eating of pulp
which makes the produce unmarketable. Therefore, farmers are suggested to manage this insect
well in advance and at appropriate time. It can be controlled by use of fruit fly traps (Methyl
Euginol, 0.1% + Malathion, 0.1%). To know the population of fruit flies in the mango orchard
these traps are hanged in the orchard.

Fruit Fly Trap

 Mango fruits are also affected with physiological disorders like black tip and internal necrosis.
This problem is mainly occurs in areas where brick kilns are operated during mango fruit
development. Therefore, it can be controlled by spray of Borax (1% or 1 kg/100 litres of water) in
the last week of April.

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 The attack of shoot borer and leaf
cutting weevil is common in this month.
These insects can be controlled by spray
of Carbaryl (0.2%) or Monocrotophos
(0.05%).

May
 Fruit fly may infest several times to the
fruits and the life of chemical soaked-
wood is short. Therefore, necessary
arrangement should be made to change
the chemical (Methyl Euginol, 0.1% +
Malathion, 0.1%) soaked wood of the
fruit fly traps for protecting the fruits. Black tip infected mango fruits

Shoot borer infestation in mango

Leaf cutting weevil

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 Spray of borax (1%) should be continued in this month for control of black tip and internal
necrosis.
 Bacterial canker also occurs during this month. Therefore, proper control measures should be
adopted in this month like spray of streptomycin (200 ppm or 20 g/100 litres of water).
 During this moth irrigation should be done at 7-10 days interval for proper development of
fruits

Mango fruits infested with fruit fly

June
 In June month, arrangement should be made to change the chemical (Methyl Euginol, 0.1% +
Malathion, 0.1%) soaked wood of the fruit fly traps.
 Mango varieties which mature during June, the harvesting of fruits should be done alongwith 10
mm shoot preferably in morning or evening hours. In dwarf varieties harvesting should be done
using secateurs and for vigorous plants mango harvester should be used.
 Harvested fruits from different varieties should not be mixed so that the sorting, grading and
packaging can be practiced easily.
 Harvested fruits should be subjected to desapping treatment (removal of sap from stem end
attached to fruit) immediately after harvest for avoiding injuries caused due to sap flow.
 These harvested fruits should be kept in plastic crates and transported to the pack houses.
There proper grading should be done in shade. Damaged, cut, rotten mango fruits should be
discarded.

 Immediately after harvesting of fruit, they should be first collected at shady place to remove the
orchard heat and thereafter washed and dried before storage.

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 For uniform ripening, the mango fruits should be dipped in ethrel solution (700 ppm; 1.8 ml/L
prepared in lukewarm water (52 ± 1°C) for 5 minutes. Addition of Carbendazim (0.5 g/L) in this
solution is helpful in protecting fungal diseases after harvest.

July
 In late maturing mango varieties, the harvesting should be done as described above.

 Harvested fruits should be subjected to desapping treatment immediately after harvest for
avoiding injuries caused due to sap flow.

 Harvested fruits should be kept in plastic crates and transported to the packaging shade
carefully.

 Proper grading should be done in the packaging house. Damaged, cut, rotten mango fruits
should be discarded.

 Mango fruit should be washed and dried before storage.

 For uniform ripening, the mango fruits should be dipped in ethrel solution (700 ppm; 1.8 l/L)
prepared in lukewarm water (52 ± 1°C) for 5 minutes. Addition of Carbendazim (0.5 g/L) in this
solution is helpful in protecting fungal diseases after harvest.

 To control shoot borer and leaf cutting weevil, spray of Carbaryl (0.2%) or Monocrotophos (0.05%)
should be done.

 Apply 500 g of nitrogen, 250 g of phosphorus and 500g of potassium should be given after
harvesting of fruits.

 Before the application of fertilizers, the weeds should be removed manually or chemically from
basins.

August
 The shoot gall maker insect is a problem in tarai regions. This month is very important for control
of this insect. Therefore, spray Monocrotophos (0.05%) or Dimethoate (0.06%) in the middle of
August.

 The spider web should be cleaned and affected portion should be cut and burned.

 Spray Copper oxychloride (0.3%) for control of red rust and anthracnose

September
 Repeat spray of Monocrotophos (0.05%) or Dimethoate (0.06%) in September month, if infestation
of shoot gall maker is seen on the tree.

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 Shoot gall infestation in mango Spider wed

 Repeat spray of Copper oxychloride (0.3%) for control of red rust and anthracnose.

October
 Apply remaining quantity of nitrogen (500 g), phosphorus (250 g) and potassium (500 g) and 50
kg of well rotten farm yard manure (FYM).
 During October, apply NAA (200 ppm) in the first fortnight for minimizing the incidence of
floral mango malformation.
 For regulating flowering in mango trees apply paclobutrazol (4-5 ml Cultar/meter diameter of
tree canopy) in trenches made at drip line.

 Die-back symptoms are common during this month. Pruning of dead woods upto 5-10 cm green
portion is advisable and spray cooper oxychloride (0.3%) twice at 15 days interval.

Die-back symptoms in mango trees

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 Mango trees infected with gummosis

 Apply 200-400 g of Copper sulphate per tree for control of gummosis.

November
 Die-back symptoms are common during this month. Therefore, pruning of dead woods upto
5-10 cm green portion is advisable and spray of Copper oxychloride (0.3%) twice at 15 days
interval for protecting mango trees from die back.

 If symptoms of gummosis are seen, clean the surface and apply Bordeaux paste on affected
portion.

 Plough the orchard and remove weeds from the orchard

December
 Arrange tree banding for control of mealy bug by end of this month.

Tree banding for mealy bug control

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 An alkathane sheet (400 gauge) having width of 25-30 cm should be wrapped around the tree
trunk at height of 30-40 cm. This sheet should be tied on both end and grease should be applied
at lower end to stop the mealy bug insect to climb on the tree.

 For control of mealy bug insect, spray of Carbosulfan (0.1% or 100 ml/100 litres of water) or
Chlorpyriphos granules (250 g/tree) in the basin is advisable.

Mealy bug infestation in mango

 To control bark eating and trunk boring insects this month is very important. First identify the
holes and clean the area then apply Dichlorvos or Monocrotophos (0.05%) in these holes. Care
should be taken to plug these holes after pouring of insecticides.

 Deblossom the early emerged panicles for minimizing the floral mango malformation.

 For protection of young plants from frost, irrigation should be given to new plants and
arrangement for covering the young tender plants with the help of straw or alkathane sheets
should be done.

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 TB-ICN: 151/2015

Directorate of Extension

Calendar of Operations
for Mango Cultivation

M.K. Verma, Manish Srivastav & K. Usha

Division of Fruits and Horticultural Technology

ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute
ICAR
New Delhi-110 012