Effect of Delayed Pruning Period on Harvesting Time of Mango cv. Kaew in the Upper North

Abstract

In order to increase the Kaew mango’s value in the Upper North rainfed condition, an experiment was conducted with an objective to know the effect of different pruning period on delay flower formation and the harvesting time. Six treatments were arranged in Completely Randomized Design with different pruning periods : June, July, August, September, October and a control (no pruning). The experiment was conducted from June 2001 to June 2002, tested with mango cv. Kaew grafted on Talub Nak, 12 years old. Four replications were laid out in the farmer ’s field, Chom Tong Land Reform Project Area, under Doi Lor district of Chiang Mai, one tree  assigned as single replication. The analysis of data indicated that there were no significant differences on number of leaf flushing, flowering period, size of inflorescence, percentage of perfect flower and harvesting time among the treatments and control, except yield and fruits drop. Yields from June and July pruning were highest (201.9 and 249.6 kg/tree respectively) and October pruning produced the lowest yield (37.6 kg/tree). Fruit drops were highest in the October pruning (89.4%). Preliminary finding showed that delayed pruning in the Upper North rainfed condition could cause lower yield with no other significant differences on delay flower formation  and the harvesting time.