Ultrahigh-Density Plantation – A step ahead in Hybrid Mango Tree farming

Times are changing, and so is mango tree plantation. The average height of a mango tree can be anywhere between 25-35 feet. As unusual as it may sound, the hybrid mango tree varieties are 6-feet tall.

Thanks to agricultural researchers, growing mango tree is now feasible in a pot too. The new technology limits the growth of mango trees and gives it the look and feel of a tea garden, i.e. small plants which are regularly pruned.

Ultrahigh-density Plantation (UHDP):

The secret to the small height of these hybrid mango trees is the ultrahigh-density plantation method. Apart from conserving water and land resources, it uses drip irrigation and high tree densities in combination with a specialized and focused pruning process.

By using this method, the maturity time of the new mango plantings decreases considerably.

Traditional mango tree plantations have a spacing of 10x10 metres, and under ultrahigh-density plantation, growing mango trees are kept at the distance of 4x2 metres from one another. It means spacing is 4 metres between the rows and 2 metres between the plants.

The yield is also way higher in ultrahigh-density plantations due to tight spacing of hybrid mango trees as compared to traditional plantations.

In traditional plantations, the all-India average yield of mangoes is 2.5-3 tonnes per acre per year. Whereas, in the case of ultrahigh-density plantations, the average increases to 9-10 acres per acre per year.

Every year after harvest, around April and May, the hybrid mango trees are pruned. That is the reason they are short in length. The pruning process targets branches that will not bear fruits. This UHDP method is part of a project, titled Project Unnati. This project aims to harness the higher productivity potential of mango farms and allows small size farm owners to increase crop yields and improve their livelihoods. Project Unnati guarantees assured returns to the farmers after three years of plantation on their land. It is undoubtedly a boon for small scale farmers.

Author:- Riddhima