Effect of Pruning and Nitrogen Fertilization Rates on the Productivity of “Keitt” and “Tommy Atkins” Mango Trees

摘要

This experiment was carried out during 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 seasons in a private orchard locatedat Cairo Alexandria Desert Road, 62 km, Egypt, on 9 years old “Keitt” and “Tommy Atkins” mango cultivarstrees (Mangifera indica .L) budded on white Sukary seedling rootstocks. The experimental trees of bothcultivars received three levels of pruning after harvest in September as follows: remove 10% or 20% or 30% ofthe total vegetative growth in addition to control (without pruning) beside different rates of nitrogen fertilizersapplication at the different stages of trees growth (After harvesting + Beginning of bud differentiation + Fromthe fruit set until fruit maturity) as follows (50+20+30), (50+30+20), (0+50+30), (50+0+50) in addition to control(fertilization program recommended in the farm). Pruning and nitrogen fertilization rates were appliedindividually or in combination. The results indicated that, Keitt mango cultivar with removing 20% of vegetativegrowth under N fertilization rate (50+0+50) was the best treatment for achieving the best yield with itscomponents as well as the best physical and chemical characteristics of fruits included fruit weight, firmness,total soluble solids, total sugars and acidity. On the other hand, Tommy Atkins cultivar under controltreatments either N fertilization or pruning treatments had significantly the lowest values of these ones in bothseasons of study.