In the past, mangoes were often produced using a lot of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, chemical weeds, and especially excessive use of flowering and fruiting stimulants in the main and off-season seasons… despite contamination to consumers and the environment.
Faced with the need to protect the environment and the health of agricultural consumers, many organic production models have been formed, creating a new start-up investment opportunity for many businesses, although many immediate challenges must be overcome. awake. Mango is also an important product that needs to change production methods towards organic to increase the value of goods, serve consumer needs and protect the environment.
Principles of organic mango production
The overall organic mango production management strategy should reflect the following principles of organic agricultural production:
Soil health largely determines plant health. Pay attention to the soil first, not just the plants
Organic systems are biological, ecologically balanced systems
The organic system combines traditional and modern practices
The organic system combines technical elements and links the production-consumption chain, harmonizing the interests of the parties involved in the link.
Organic farms should operate as many closed systems as possible
A comprehensive approach ensures good integration of management practices.
Many good practices developed from traditional mango production can be applied in organic mango production conditions such as: Economical and effective watering methods, wind protection measures, erosion control and other aspects of Integrated pest management (IPM) or integrated weed management (IWM) can be adapted to organic production systems. Quality control management systems, preferably incorporating HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point) systems, can be used to support the management and assessment of quality control. accept organic production.
Apply organic fertilizer
Soil and plant sample tests are important for verifying nutritional requirements. The general approach to correcting any deficiency is through the soil, rather than applying it directly to the plant (leaves). Of course, during the early years of conversion, some foliar applications may be required while soil imbalances are corrected. Growers need to demonstrate that measures are being taken to improve the soil. Care must be taken to use materials that benefit soil biological processes and comply with organic certification standards.
Some certified organic input nutrients (e.g. OMRI, ControlUnion…) may cost more than conventional products. However, the quantity of nutrients applied can be small to reduce costs. The table below lists important nutrient sources in organic production.
Protein (Nitrogen): Acceptable product sources are as follows: Legumes and soil cover, pelleted livestock and poultry manure, animal blood, fish emulsion of all kinds, compost …
Phosphorus: Sources: Phosphate rock, organic fertilizer, bone meal…
Potassium (Potassium): Sources: Sulpomage (natural potassium), potassium sulfate, seaweed, organic fertilizer…
Calcium: Sources: agricultural lime (limestone), dolomite, lime sand, trace lime.
Magnesium: (Magnesium): Sources: Dolomite, magnesium, magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt or kieserite)…
Sulfur: Sources: Gypsum, potassium sulfate or other sulfates, elemental sulfur on a limited basis.
Micronutrients: Natural sulfates, e.g. zinc, iron, copper, manganese; natural oxides – less available in the short term; borate or boric acid; organic fertilizer (compost); seagrass; fish emulsion; natural chelates, e.g. ligno sulphonates, citric acid, maleic acid, amino acids and other di or tri acids; Attention: nitrates and chlorides are not allowed; Synthetic chelates, e.g. EDTA and HEDTA are not allowed.
Plants have available some of the organic nutrient sources listed above which may differ from highly soluble inorganic products. The lead time required from first application of inputs until useful amounts are available to the crop must be carefully considered – especially during the transition to organic.
