Abstract
A series of experiments were carried out in order to increase the production of quality mango in the Mymensingh region of Bangladesh. The research work was conducted at the Germplasm Centre of the Fruit Tree Improvement Project (FTIP), Department of Horticulture, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh during the period from August 2000 to July 2003. The experiments were conducted mainly to manage mango hopper and fruit fly with emphasis on non-chemical means, and to improve the yield and quality of mango through use of proper fertilizer dose and irrigation schedule, and finally to recommend a package of ICM for mango cultivation. The results revealed that application of smoke and neem leaf extract during flowering and fruit set can control mango hoppers to some extent and caused about two-fold increase in yield over control. Insecticide spray was also found to control hoppers effectively and increased yield by three times over control. The variety Gopalbhog was found more susceptible to fruit fly than Amrapali. Bagging of fruits with white polybag one month before harvest checked fruit fly infestation fully and produced almost 100% fresh fruits/plant. Bait trapping with mango pulp resulted in 93% fresh fruits/plant but 100% fresh fruits were obtained when methyl eugenol was used. Fertilizer application of urea 250 g + TSP 250 g + MP 100 g + gypsum 100 g + ZnSO₄ 10 g + cowdung 10 kg/plant and irrigation at 14 days interval increased yield of mango almost three times more over control. Incidence of mango hoppers was more during February and June and it was the highest in Mallika variety throughout the year and the lowest was in Amrapali. Incidence of fruit fly was maximum in the month of May and variety Langra was found with highest infestation while Amrapali had the minimum. Among different components of ICM, management of hoppers through spraying with insecticide after panicle emergence and after fruit set + management of fruit fly through bagging of fruits with white polybag one month before harvest + application of fertilizers @ urea 250 g, TSP 250 g, MP 100 g, gypsum 100 g, ZnSO₄ 10 g and cowdung 10 kg/plant + irrigation at 14 days interval was the best and appeared to be recommendable for mango orchards with plants of 3-5 years of age.