Leaf nutrient status and fruit quality of Alphonso mango as influenced by micronutrients

The problem of alternate bearing habit in Alphonso mango is considered as one of the long standing unresolved problems, directly and substantially contributing to poor production along with other problems like some physiological stresses and quality related issues has been raised in mango orchards. To overcome this problems the experiment was planned with eleven treatments involving two levels of micronutrients (ZnSO₄ 1% and 2%; FeSO₄ 1% and 2% and Borax 0.5% and 1%), their combinations and a control. Owing to results, it is revealed that foliar application of micronutrients produced favorable effect on fruit quality in terms of TSS, total sugars, reducing sugar and ascorbic acid. There was no significant effect on the acidity (%) and non-reducing sugar (%) due to any of the micronutrient either alone or in combinations. In case of nutrient status in mango leaves, Zn content was found to be higher in ZnSO₄ 2% + FeSO₄ 2% treatment, while iron and boron content were the maximum in ZnSO₄ 2% + FeSO₄ 2% + Borax 1% in the leaves of mango cv. Alphonso.