What causes mango flower and fruit drop? Causes and control methods
Mango is a tropical fruit with relatively high economic value, and it is also one of our favorite fruits. It is rich in nutrients, containing sugars, protein, vitamins and many other nutrients needed by the human body. The phenomenon of flower and fruit drop during cultivation seriously affects its yield, so what are the causes of mango flower and fruit drop? Below, the editor will introduce the causes and control methods of mango flower and fruit drop.
1. Temperature
During the flowering and young fruit stages of mango, if there is long-term low-temperature and rainy weather, mango is very prone to flower and fruit drop. This is because when the temperature is too low, the transport of nutrients in the plant is slow or stops, while the rainy weather causes soil compaction, resulting in poor soil permeability, decreased root respiration and absorption capacity, and the flowers and fruits cannot obtain nutrients to continue growing, so they fall off. In addition, rainy weather also affects insect activity, leading to poor pollination, and it is very easy to produce a large number of deformed and aborted fruits, which naturally fall off in the later growth stage. This is a physiological phenomenon.
Control methods: Choose varieties with strong stress resistance and adaptability, which have a certain resistance to low-temperature and rainy climates. During low temperatures, methods such as fertilizing and plastic film mulching can be used to increase low temperature, and the tree trunk can also be whitewashed to protect against severe cold. During the rainy season, do a good job in drainage and waterlogging prevention. If pollination is poor, artificial supplementary pollination can be carried out.
2. Pests and diseases
The harm of pests and diseases is also one of the main causes of mango flower and fruit drop. The main diseases are anthracnose and powdery mildew. After the plant is infected, the flower spikes and young fruits turn black, dry up, necrose, and eventually fall off, or the plant turns brown and necroses, causing flower buds to fall off. The pests include flatid leafhoppers and striped tail noctuid moths, which suck the sap from flowers and leaves clean, causing tender branches to dry up and fall off.
Control methods: Do a good job in pest and disease control. Before flowering, do a good job in fertilizer and water management, combine with chemical control, apply more phosphorus and potassium fertilizers or organic fertilizers to the planting to improve disease resistance, and spray insecticides and fungicides to control pests and diseases well. When disease occurs, spray chemicals to treat the disease and kill the pests.
3. Insufficient nutrition
Mango needs to consume a large amount of nutrients during the bud differentiation, ear emergence, and flowering and fruiting stages, especially during the flowering and fruiting stage, when nutrients at this time account for 40% of the total nutrients. Therefore, if the nutrient supply is insufficient at this time, flower and fruit drop will occur.
Control methods: Strengthen fertilizer and water management, apply sufficient base fertilizer. Apply 3000-4000 kg of fully decomposed organic fertilizer per mu, combined with 50-100 kg of compound fertilizer as base fertilizer, and topdress in time. Topdressing should be carried out during the bud differentiation, ear emergence, and flowering and fruiting stages. During bud differentiation, nitrogen fertilizer is mainly used; during the ear emergence stage, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium fertilizers should be reasonably combined, appropriately reducing nitrogen fertilizer to prevent excessive vegetative growth. At the flowering and fruiting stage, increase the application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers to promote fruit growth and expansion, and also increase the application of some trace elements so that the fruit can fully develop well.
4. Lack of water
During the flowering and fruiting stage, mango needs sufficient water. If the soil is too dry and lacks water, it will affect the plant's metabolism and nutrient transport, thereby causing flower buds to fall off. The fruits cannot obtain water during growth, and their growth is inhibited. When water shortage is severe, it will lead to fruit drop.
Control methods: During the flowering and fruiting stage, it is essential to ensure sufficient water supply. When the soil is found to be too dry, water in time to keep the soil moist. In addition, after watering, shallow cultivation can be done appropriately to avoid soil compaction, which would also affect the roots' absorption of nutrients and water.
The above are the causes and control methods of mango flower and fruit drop. We hope it can help you. If you want to learn more about mango cultivation knowledge, please follow us.