Effect of calcium, boron and sorbitol on fruit set, yield and quality of mango (Mangifera indica L.) cv. langra.

Abstract

Low fruit setting and heavy fruit drop in cv. Langra is a serious problem for mango growers despite the profuse flowering, good fruit setting. Some chemicals like Calcium nitrate, Boric and Sorbitol are able to minimize the loss. The experiment was conducted during the two successive seasons in the years 2012 & 2013 on mango (Mangifera indica L.) cv. Langra with treatments T1-( Calcium nitrate @0.06%), T2-(Boric acid @0.02%), T3-(Sorbitol @2.0%) T4-(Calcium nitrate @ 0.06% + Boric acid @ 0.02%), T5-(Calcium nitrate @ 0.06% + Sorbitol @ 2.0%), T6-(Boric acid @ 0.02% + Sorbitol @ 2.0%) and T7-(Control) with four replications to study on fruit set, yield and quality. The pooled data for the year 2012 and 2013 indicated that the foliar spray of Boric acid @ 0.02% significantly performed better result in regards to highest pulp (78.60%), TSS (19.080Brix), total sugar (11.57%), reducing sugar (2.68%), non-reducing sugar (8.89%), ascorbic acid (33.76mg/100gfw) and carotenoids (8.62mg/100gfw) with lowest value peel (7.45%), stone (13.86%) and acidity (0.30%). The combination effect of Calcium nitrate @ 0.06% + Boric acid @ 0.02% significantly proves better in respect of minimum fruit drop percent (91.19%), whereas; maximum in control (97.35%) as well as in terms of increasing fruit set and yield (138.43kg/tree) of mango cv. Langra.