Fertiláqua explains how it is possible to produce mango out of season

Fertiláqua has been carrying out daily online broadcasts to discuss the main points of agriculture and assist producers with tips and guidance that, until then, were given in the field.

One of the topics covered was year-round mango production in the Vale do São Francisco region, in Petrolina-PE and Juazeiro-BA, with consultant and mango specialist for 30 years, Eduardo Ferraz.

He was one of those responsible for starting studies in the region in the 90s, when a maximum production of 15 tons per hectare was reached. The work had as its starting point the monitoring of nutritional levels in the development of the plant.

 “Previously the level of information was low and some consultants used these references as a basis for work. For us, observing the field, many indexes left something to be desired and we needed to build and create different references to improve the level of development. And that’s when we saw that the crop’s productive potential could be greater,” he explains.

With the initial database, they created absorption curves in the leaves and fruits and made adjustments and modifications in the supply of mineral elements and their distribution in the phenological phases of the crop. The objective was to understand the necessary amount of mineral nutrients demanded by each phase.

The second mapping work to reach high levels of productivity was in relation to the plant's hormonal control to discover the answer to priority issues such as flowering. Until then, it was known that the plant responded best in the cold season, between May and July. And as the challenge was to produce all year round, it was necessary to understand hormonal balance and know how to manage it.

Another highlight in the study was the architecture of the canopy. With the cup open, the model used at the time, there was shading on the sides of the plant, less photosynthesis, loss of vegetative vigor and, subsequently, it began to die. When the pruning direction was reversed to a trapezoidal architecture, with faces more exposed to light, an increase in carbohydrate reserves, that is, energy, was observed. The difference in total carbohydrate level ranged from 5 to 12% (open cup) to up to 23% (trapezoidal). “I realized that it was not only the mineral part that influenced the productive potential, but also how the plant produced and accumulated carbohydrates to produce fruits”, he explains.

During plant development, carbohydrates are used in several ways, such as to combat stress. It is produced by photosynthesis, stored in leaves, shoots and roots as starch, and when the plant needs it, it is transformed into sucrose and used as an energy source. “Stress causes the plant to lose a lot of reserves. What we did was mitigate these stresses and then we noticed that carbohydrates were accumulated for the other cycle, making it possible to maintain good levels of sprouting, flowering and fruiting.”

According to the consultant, seeing what the plant is showing is the key to success. “Being able to understand and anticipate problems impacts increased productivity. And to achieve excellent results, you have to analyze this set of factors and manage them in a synchronized way, as each production component has its importance”, he states.

The mango culture, considered biannual in the literature, has been produced for years throughout the year in regions such as the São Francisco Valley. “We broke this paradigm and showed that it is possible to have a production out of season that is just traditional, just use solutions and correct management. Today, we work with 50 to 58 tons per hectare and we see in the region the potential to reach up to 80 tons per hectare. We continue working to reach this level”, he concludes.