Pruning, bagging reduce pesticide use on mango

Mango growers may as well prune their trees and bag their fruits to reduce the use of pesticides on the trees and at the same time protect the health of consumers.

This was the conclusion reached by Dr. Ma. Excelsis M. Orden and her research team at the Central Luzon State University in a nationwide study on the economic effects of pruning and bagging in mango production.

Orden said pruning and bagging have long-term beneficial effects on the environment and mango consumers through the reduced application of chemicals. These chemicals aim to control insect pests like leafhoppers, fruit flies and mealy bugs, as well as diseases such as anthracnose, scab and powdery mildew.

The study was conducted in selected major mango producing areas like Pangasinan, Zambales, Cebu, Guimaras, and Davao del Sur. A total of 332 mango growers were interviewed.

Results showed that pruning is a yield-increasing technology. The net income obtained by adopters of the technology was higher than the non-adopters who admitted they used chemicals extensively to combat insect pests and diseases.

In Luzon, adopters of both pruning and bagging applied chemicals five times, while bagging adopters sprayed six times.

In the Visayas where bagging is widely practiced, pruning and bagging adopters sprayed 4.7 times, while those who bagged only sprayed five times.

In contrast, Mindanao growers sprayed six times before bagging. Additional application of chemicals was done when incidence of insects attacking the fruits was high and when the bags were destroyed by rain.

Pruning removes unproductive and overlapping branches as well as those damaged by insects and diseases, resulting in good light penetration and air circulation.

The removal of unwanted branches also creates an environment that is less favorable to the development of insect pests and diseases. Sources of disease organisms are also removed.

Orden and her fellow workers also reported that pruned trees had earlier and more uniform flushing (emergence of new leaves), faster flush maturation, and better response to flower induction.

Bagging also helped reduce the volume of chemicals used by 23 percent. With bagging, spraying of chemicals was needed only during the flowering and early fruiting stages.

Among adopters of both pruning and bagging, the total cost of chemical control was reduced by 18 percent. – Sosimo Ma. Pablico