What ecological conditions are needed for mango cultivation

I think everyone is very familiar with mangoes. Many people in daily life like to eat mangoes, but mangoes contain certain components, and some people develop an allergic reaction after eating them. Therefore, although mangoes are delicious and highly nutritious, they are a tropical fruit, so you should not eat too many of them!

Requirements of mango planting for growth and ecological conditions

1. Temperature

The optimum annual average temperature for mangoes is 21-27 degrees C, the monthly average temperature ≥ degrees C (13≥ degrees C is suitable), and in areas with an absolute minimum temperature >0 degrees C, its cold tolerance is slightly inferior to that of longan and lychee. In most major mango-producing countries in the world, the annual average temperature is around 25 degrees C, the average temperature of the coldest month is ≥18 degrees C, and the absolute minimum temperature is >5 degrees C. Mango production cannot be developed in areas where frost commonly occurs during the flowering period. Within the suitable temperature range, mangoes produced in areas with higher temperatures have an earlier ripening period, a higher sugar-acid ratio, and better quality.

The effective temperature for mango tree growth is 18-35 degrees C, and the optimum temperature for shoot growth is 24-29 degrees C. Growth stops below 10 degrees C, and seedlings suffer cold damage below 3 degrees C. During the flowering period and the early stage of young fruit development, the temperature should preferably be above 20 degrees C. Below this temperature, pollination and fertilization are poor, and even the inflorescence may die, the young embryo may die, and fruit drop may result. If it is above 37 degrees C, accompanied by dry wind, the florets and young fruits suffer sunscald. During flower bud differentiation, there should be appropriately low temperature or drought.

2. Water and temperature

Mangoes are best planted in low-rainfall areas with irrigation conditions, because they need soil moisture but also avoid excessively high atmospheric humidity. Drought in winter and spring and humidity in summer and autumn are ideal climatic conditions.

1. Needs water (referring to soil moisture)

Mangoes badly need water during shoot elongation and fruit development (especially the fruit enlargement stage), and also need appropriate water during the flowering period and young fruit stage. Otherwise, shoot growth and fruit enlargement are affected, causing flower and fruit drop.

2. Afraid of humidity (referring to atmospheric humidity)

During shoot sprouting and leaf color change, if there is continuous rain or excessive humidity (relative humidity above 80%), tender leaves are easily induced to develop anthracnose, causing defoliation and shoot dieback. During the flowering and fruiting period, if there are 2-3 days of continuous rain or heavy fog, it will cause flower withering and fruit drop, leading to poor harvest. Areas with clear weather during the flowering period, sufficient sunlight and relatively low temperatures are ideal mango-producing areas. In the middle and late stages of fruit development, prolonged drought followed by sudden rain or sudden full irrigation causes fruit cracking and fruit drop. Excessive rain before harvest makes the fruit flavor bland and reduces its quality.

The most important point above is that mangoes require annual rainfall of 700-1500 mm, and during the flowering and small fruit stages there must be no less than 3 months of drought. This is the most important factor affecting the distribution of mango trees. For example, Dongfang County in Hainan Province, China, has annual rainfall of 1000-1500 mm, and November to May is the dry season. Overcast and rainy weather is very rare. Whenever it rains in northern Hainan, this place only has wind without rain or only a very small amount of rain, and then it quickly clears up. June to September is the rainy season (generally raining once every 7-10 days, and it clears up right after the rain), and rainfall accounts for 75.8% of the annual rainfall. The dry season is exactly when mango trees flower and bear fruit. It is the fruit growth period of early and mid-season varieties; the rainy season is exactly the fruit enlargement and harvest period of late-maturing varieties, and the autumn shoot growth period of early, mid-, and late-maturing varieties; therefore, this county has become a major mango-producing area and the most suitable ecological belt. In recent years, mangoes have been planted in large quantities in areas with irrigation conditions, achieving high yield and quality, with considerable benefits. Because the rainfall distribution in this county can both satisfy the requirement for dry weather during the flowering period and meet the large soil moisture needs for shoot growth. That is, tree growth and fruiting are both taken care of. Similar areas also include Changjiang, Ledong, and Sanya in Hainan Province; the west coast of the Leizhou Peninsula in Guangdong Province; the Baise area in Guangxi; the Nujiang, Lancangjiang, and Honghe river basins in Yunnan; the valley areas of the Anning River, a tributary of the Jinsha River, in Sichuan; and Tainan, Kaohsiung, and Pingtung County in Taiwan, China. The area is very limited, so we should concentrate financial, material, and human resources to first develop the "King of Tropical Fruits" - mango - in this most suitable ecological zone, where the economic benefits are the highest.

As for sub-suitable areas where the mango flowering period has more low-temperature overcast rain but the temperature is suitable, suitable varieties should be selected (Zihua, Guixiang, Yuexi No. 1, etc.) and inputs such as pesticides, fertilizers, and labor should be increased, so that the economic benefits will be better. But it is still difficult to compare with the most suitable areas.

3. Light

Mango is a heliophilous tree species, and "no light, no fruit." Sufficient light can promote flower bud differentiation, increase the fruit-setting rate, increase sugar content, and thereby improve yield and quality, so orchards should be established on sunny, open land.

4. Wind

Strong winds (level five or above) are harmful, while gentle breezes are beneficial. In windy areas, windbreak forests should be planted before planting mango trees.

5. Soil

Mango trees are not strict about soil requirements, but loam and alluvial soil with deep soil layers (more than 2 m), a low groundwater table (lower than 3 m), good drainage, rich organic matter, and pH 5.5-7.0 are most suitable for planting mangoes.

6. Altitude and topography

For commercial production, an altitude below 600 m is preferable. However, it should be considered in relation to temperature (the highest altitude in Thailand is 900 m). Establishing orchards on plains can reduce production costs, but good drainage is required; for hilly and mountainous land, the slope should be below 20 degrees, and soil and water conservation works should be done well.

According to the above requirements of mangoes for ecological conditions, in order to favor mango tree growth and fruiting, facilitate management and transportation, and avoid competing with grain for land, mango orchards should preferably be selected on hilly land with a gentle slope or sunny sloping mountain land, and in the south-facing slope areas of the lower part of mountain land. These areas have fertile soil, a relatively high groundwater table, convenient irrigation, and good drainage, and are important sections for developing mangoes. As for plain areas, such as around Tangong Reservoir in Dongfang County, Hainan Province, in the most suitable ecological zone for mangoes, the terrain is flat, the soil is fertile (the organic matter content of the surface soil is as high as 1%-2%), the soil texture is sandy loam, drainage is good, the groundwater table is low (lower than 3 m), and there is an irrigation water source and convenient transportation. It is a rare treasure land for mango production, and in recent years a relatively large-scale commercial mango base has been under construction.

Nutritional value of mangoes  

1. Mango flesh is delicate, fragrant and sweet, and rich in sugars and vitamins, with protein 0.65-1.31%, carotene 2281-6304 micrograms per 100 g of flesh, soluble solids 14-24.8%, and the content of essential trace elements for the human body such as selenium, calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and iron is also very high.  

2. A mango has about 57 calories, and its vitamin A content is as high as 3.8%, twice that of apricots. Its vitamin C content also exceeds that of oranges and strawberries. Each 100 g of flesh contains 56.4-137.5 mg of vitamin C, and some can reach as high as 189 mg. The sugar content is 14-16%. The seed contains 5.6% protein, 16.1% fat, and 69.3% carbohydrates.  

3. Every 100 g of mango contains 32 kcal of energy, 0.6 g of protein, 7 g of carbohydrates, 0.2 g of fat, 90.6 g of water, 1.3 g of dietary fiber, 0.3 g of ash, 8050 micrograms of carotene, 1342 micrograms of retinol, 0 mg of vitamin B1, 0 mg of vitamin B2, 0.3 mg of niacin, 23 mg of vitamin C, 1.21 mg of vitamin E, 138 mg of potassium, 2.8 mg of sodium, 14 mg of magnesium, 0.2 mg of iron, 0.2 mg of manganese, 0.09 mg of zinc, 0.06 micrograms of copper, 11 mg of phosphorus, and 1.44 micrograms of selenium.

Site selection for mango plantations  

1. The nursery site should be far away from mango orchards, with no old mango trees around, to reduce the spread of pests and diseases and cultivate disease-free and pest-free seedlings. At the same time, transportation should be convenient, and irrigation and drainage should be convenient. The nursery site should be selected on sheltered, sunny, north-facing-to-south-facing, gently sloping land with sufficient sunlight, and the groundwater table should be below 1 m. Low-lying land is not suitable because it easily collects cold air and forms frost, and drainage is difficult and it is prone to waterlogging damage.  

2. Sandy loam with a pH value of 5.5-6.5 is more suitable for the nursery site. Sandy soil has poor water retention, and seedlings are prone to drought and sunscald and grow poorly. Clayey soil has poor aeration and drainage, and the soil easily becomes compacted, causing poor root growth, much root damage when lifting seedlings, and a low survival rate after planting.  

3. Mango nurseries should not be continuously cropped for a long time, otherwise the soil fertility of the nursery will decline, pests and diseases will be severe, and plant growth will be unfavorable.

Management techniques for mango orchards  

1. Irrigation and drainage  

After planting, seedlings need watering to maintain moisture during dry weather. Water once every 7-10 days to keep the orchard soil moist. During the flowering and fruiting period, regular irrigation is needed to ensure the water required for flowering and fruit. In the rainy season, local water accumulation should be drained promptly.  

2. Intertillage, weeding, and loosening soil  

The orchard requires weeding 4-6 times per year, keeping the root zone free of weeds. From late autumn to before winter, shallow loosening of the root zone should be carried out.  

3. Mulching  

Straw mulching can maintain moisture balance and soil temperature, reduce weed growth, and at the same time increase soil organic matter, prevent compaction, and favor root activity.  

4. Deep plowing to improve soil and bury green manure  

At the drip line of the canopy, dig fertilization trenches 80-150 cm long and 40-50 cm each in depth and width. Into each trench, press 40-50 kg of green grass, 10-20 kg of farmyard manure, and 0.5-1 kg of superphosphate.  

5. Fertilization of fruiting trees  

(1) Post-fruit fertilizer. Mainly organic fertilizer, combined with deep plowing to improve the soil. Each tree should also be given an additional 0.5-1 kg of quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer.  

(2) Flower-promoting fertilizer. Apply it 1 month before flowering, during flower bud differentiation, in November-December. Generally use 0.5-1 kg of ammonium sulfate or urea per tree.  

(3) Flower-fading fertilizer. Apply quick-acting nitrogen and potassium fertilizer once when mango flowers fade, or add 0.5%-1% potassium dihydrogen phosphate or potassium nitrate as a foliar topdressing when spraying pesticides.  

(4) Fruit-strengthening fertilizer. The fertilization time is March-April each year. This fertilization amount accounts for 60% of the annual amount. The N:P:K mixing ratio is 8:1:8. Combine with irrigation to provide the water and nutrients needed for fruit enlargement.

I think many people know about the growing environment of mangoes. Mangoes are a tropical fruit, so first of all their temperature requirements are relatively high. In the north, it is certainly impossible to grow such delicious mangoes. Next are the effects of humidity and light, and so on.