INTEGRATING WOODY PERENNIAL SPECIES FOR SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE IN A RAINFED UPLAND 2. COMPARISON OF THREE YEAR-OLD MANGO CULTIVARS

Abstract

The integration of mango into the traditional soybean cropping pattern on the farmer's field in the Chom Tong Land Reform Project area, Chiang Mai, have been studied since 1989. The purpose was to identify the suitable mango cultivars by comparing the performance of 15 commercial cultivars under the upland conditions. Results of the first three year (1989-1992) indicated that mango generally had a rapid growth, particularly, Pim-Sen-Man, Chao-Khun-Thip, Nong-Sang and Tong-Dum cultivars, while Salaya, Kaew-Luem-Rang and Nam-Dok-Mai grew at a relatively lower rate. Almost all mango flowered but only about fifty percent bore fruits in the third year. The highest number of harvested fruits per tree in the third year was obtained from Chok-A-Nan cultivar. But the green delicious cultivars: Salaya and Kaew-Luem-Rang could be harvested earlier in the area. Three percent of the mortality rate was still found annually even in the third year excluding those which were damaged by occasional storm. The effect of the integrated mango tree on the traditional soybean production as well as the impact of this on-farm research on the expansion of the multipurpose fruit tree growing in the surrounding area were also discussed.