Effect of foliar application of chemicals on fruit retention, yield and quality of mango (Mangifera indica) cv. Kesar

The field experiment was conducted at Agricultural Experimental Station, Navsari Agricultural University, Paria, District-Valsad, Gujarat, during 2013–14. The experiment included seven treatments consisting of tricontanol @ 500, 750 and 1000 mg/litre, humic acid 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5% and water spray as the control. The experiment was laid out in a randomized block design with four replications. Trees were sprayed three times, viz. at flowering, pea size and marble stage of fruits. Among different treatments, tricontanol @ 750 mg/litre enhanced fruit setting at pea and marble stages per panicle; fruit retention at harvesting stage, minimize fruit drop at harvesting stage and number of fruits/tree, while, humic acid @ 1.5%was found effective for fruit yield, physical and quality parameters. Similarly, foliar application of humic acid @ 1.5% gave higher benefit: cost ratio.