Influence of Tree Age and Variety on Allometric Characteristics and Water Use of Mangifera indica L. Growing in Plantation

Data on water relations and growth characteristics of mango trees needed for productive plantation management are currently lacking in West Africa. Relationships between allometric properties and water use in mango trees were examined. In addition, the effects on allometric characteristics and xylem sap flow were investigated in a mixed varieties plantation. Tree age explained more than 92% of the variation in stem diameter, over 96% of the variation in height, over 92% of the variation in crown diameter, and more than 97% of the variation in leaf area index of the 60 mango trees sampled. Water use increased from 1.01 kg d-1 to 156.7 kg d-1 from the 2- to the 33-year-old trees for a typical bright day. Sap flow was highly correlated with age under different sky conditions. A power function relating daily sap flow to age yielded an r2 of 0.98 for bright days and 0.87 when combined with rainy day data. The water use and growth parameters of the three cultivars were generally not significantly different. This paper has implications for mango productivity and for orchard water management in potentially dry areas of West Africa