Mango Alternate bearing

Alternate bearing is a physiological disorder of mango. It is also known as biennial bearing or irregular or erratic bearing. In this disorder in one year the plant bears profuse flower and fruit (On year) and in the subsequent year it bears no or very less flower and fruits (off year). 

The probable causes of this includes

1. Adverse climatic conditions

2. Improper cultural practices

3. Genetic or varietal characters 

4. Age or maturity condition of the tree and shoot.

5. The C:N ratio of the shoot

6. Incidents of diseasesand pests

7. Hermonal imbalance 

The ways to control the biennial bearing are 

1. Selection of regular bearing varieties like Bangalora, Neelum, Rumani, Mallika, Amrapali, Ratna and Sindhu etc.

2. Proper cultural practices including training, pruning, weed and nutrient management  etc.

3. Deblossoming in the on year, to promote flowering in the off years

4. Smudging or smoking under the tress to induce off season flowering 

5. Spraying chemicals like TIBA, Cycocel and Alar during flower bud differenciation and after harvesting of on year.

6. Applying Paclobutrazol 5g/plant during August - October as soil drenching induces regular bearing. 

Now, lets control the Alternate bearing in mango.