Water-Retaining Agent as a Sustainable Agricultural Technique to Enhance Mango (Mangifera indica L.) Productivity in Tropical Soils

• DOI: 10.3390/agronomy14030530
• Publication Date: 2024-03-04T13:03:47Z
• Authors: Xiaoping Zang; Tianyan Yun; Lixia Wang; Rulin Zhan; Zheli Ding; Weihong Ma; Mamdouh A. Eissa; Tao Jing; Yongxia Liu; Jianghui Xie; Yingdui He
• Keywords: Mangifera; Tropical Agriculture

Reducing fertilizer doses under sustainable agricultural management is possible by increasing nutrient utilization efficiency, which will decrease crop production costs and boost economic return. Soil amendments known as water retention agents (WRAs) are added to the soil enhance growth conditions. We hypothesize that addition of WRAs may support soil-retaining nutrients given through fertilization prevent them from leaching into tropical soils characterized severe rainfall due WRAs’ exceptional capacities absorb store water. Mango trees (Mangifera indica L. cv Tainong No. 1) aged 18 years were fertilized with 100% or 80% recommended nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K). The experimental design included three treatments, i.e., complete N, P, K (CRF), (RRF), water-retaining agent (40 kg ha−1) + (WRARRF). 20% for mango in studied significantly (p < 0.05) minimized availability compared doses. WRARRF compensated reduction K. WRARR increased leaf 11%, 4%, 7% first year 6%, second year, respectively, CRF. partial productivity (PFP) value 36% 41% years, respectively. highest fruit output was achieved WRARRF, resulted increases yield 11.9% 16.5% RRF. Fruit quality traits showed descending order: > RRF produced maximum benefit (USD 7372 per hectare) CRF polyacrylamide/attapulgite exhibited remarkable improvement profit regulating release soils. Water-retaining an effective strategy overcoming extensive used orchards, has numerous environmental contaminations inefficient use fertilizers.