Mango crops belong to the Anacardiaceae family, originated from South Asia – Burma and Eastern India. Apart from excellent taste, Mango is considered to be very healthy (superfood). The fruit contains dietary fibers that are helpful for digestion, as well as antioxidants and many vitamins, including vitamin B6 that boosts brain function, vitamin C (20 times more than an orange!), and much more.
Mango plantations in Israel are concentrated mostly around northern Israel around the sea of galilee.
In recent years, there has been a change in the composition of the cultivated varieties. Old and familiar has remained such as the Maya and Kent, but most of the new plantations are relatively new varieties such as Shelly and Omer.
The Mango blooms in the spring and is ripens in the summer months, from early varieties in July to late varieties in September.
Each ton of Mango fruit contains approximately 6.5 kg of Nitrogen, 1.7 kg of Phosphorus Oxide, and 7.5 kg of Potassium Oxide. Therefore, if the picking covers an average of three tons per dunam, than about 20 kg of Nitrogen removed, 6 kg of Phosphorus oxide, and about 23 kg of potassium oxide are removed for each dunam. Fertilization recommendations are based on these amounts, and the stage of fruit development should be considered.
About a month before the picking, Nitrogen fertilization should be stopped for two main reasons:
- In colored varieties – it might damage the quality by delaying color accumulation.
- Fear of damage to the quality of the fruit by causing Soft Nose.
Since the fertilization level before picking is low, we are required to fertilize supplementary dosage after the picking.If it has been decided to fertilize 15 kg of Nitrogen per dunam in total, we will fertilize 5 kg before the picking and 10 kg afterward, as mentioned, Mango is a plant that has been customized for growing in Israeli soil.
In countries of origin, the soil has a lower pH levels compared to the soil in Israel, therefore, Mango roots have some difficulty absorbing microelements, especially regarding iron absorption.
The problem can be resolved as follows:
- Adding micro-elements to the fertilizer solution, especially Iron and Zinc. Iron Chelate fertilization is essential for Mango development and fruit formation.
The more alkaline the soil is, the more Iron Chelate should be added. the amount per dunam of powdered Chelate Iron fertilizer can range from 3 kg to 10 kg, it is recommended to combine the Chelate Iron with the fertilizer to have a continuous application of iron.
It was found that the application of iron in the fall season had a positive effect on the crop of the next year, so it is recommended to increase the amount of iron applied in the fall. The dosage of Chelate Iron to be applied should be calculated on a basis of one-third in spring and two-thirds in autumn.
For the past 35 years, the use of a fertilizing solution called "FerroGat" produced by Gat Fertilizers has become very popular. It is a unique product consisting of a mixture of Iron Chelates that optimizes the availability of iron to the roots. "FerroGat", which is a liquid fertilizer, is convenient for immediate use in non-acid complex fertilizing solutions.an amount of 8.6 liters of "FerroGat" is equivalent to 1 kg of powdered Iron Chelate.
- It is recommended to fertilize with solutions from the "Blue" fertilizers family (containing nitrogen inhibitor). The "Blue " additive maintains Nitrogen as Ammonium (NH4) and the absorption of Ammonium by the roots leads to a decrease of the pH in the root area, which optimizes and increases the availability of micro-elements and phosphorus.
In recent years, more and more growers understand that beyond chemical fertilization it is advisable to enrich the soil with organic matter. The combination of bio-stimulants Gat humic and fulvic acids additives in the complex solid water-soluble fertilizer solutions adds an organic substance to the chemical fertilizer, and it was found that Gat humic and fulvic acid additives assist the plant during periods of stress, produces a branched root system and as a result, higher yield and micro-element absorption.
Gat Fertilizers offers efficient and high-quality solutions for Mango plantations. For example, complex solid water-soluble fertilizer solutions includes bio-stimulants, or Nitrogen solutions containing "Blue" additive (Nitrogen inhibitor) in combination with Trace Elements such as iron ("FerroGat"), Zinc, Manganese, and bio-stimulants (bio-HumicGat, Seaweed, etc…).
Fertigation recommendations are based on parameters such as water quality, soil analysis, growing stages, and plant's requirements, with the close and reliable professional guidance of Gat fertilizers agronomists.
Fertilization guidelines are considered as a recommendation only.
Michal Kanot, Gat Fertilizers Agronomist
References:
Adato. Kenan. Improving differentiation by adding high levels of autumnal iron in feeding ducts for Tommy variety (2001). Amiad
Silber et al.,The effect of Nitrogen fertilizer Mango crop (2018). northern R&D.
Litz, R. E. (Ed.). (2009). The mango: botany, production and uses. Cabi.
