NUTRIMENTAL DIAGNOSIS OF MANGO IN SAN BLAS, STATE OF NAYARIT, MEXICO

Abstract

The objective of this study was to obtain a nutritional diagnosis of commercial mango (Mangifera indica L.) orchards cvs. Haden and
Tommy Atkins by using two approaches (Sufficiency intervals and Balance indexes). Fifty mango orchards were selected in four growing regions in the county of San Blas, Nayarit: Jalcocotán, Mecatán, Navarrete, and Las Palmas. With the exception of Navarrete, 10 orchards (five of Haden and five of Tommy Atkins) under rainfed conditions were sampled in each producer area. For Navarrete 20 mango orchards were sampled, 10 in irrigated and 10 in rainfed conditions, including cvs. Haden and Tommy Atkins. Leaves sampling was done before flowering on December, 1991. In each orchard a composed sample of sixty whole leaves 5 to 7 months old were collected from the middle part of the trees. Chemical analysis was done to determine the foliar concentrations of N, P, K, Ca and Mg. The results were not affected by the diagnostic approach used. No differences neither among growing regions or mango cultivars were detected. Nutrimental status of irrigated mango orchards were not better than those under rainfed conditions. The overall nutrimental diagnostic for mango orchards under rainfed conditions showed normal concentrations of N, excesive levels of Mg, and below normal the concentrations of P, K, and Ca.