A group of experts from the experimental plantation "La Nacla-Puntalón", owned by Caja Rural in the town of Motril, Spain, is studying how to convert unused or badly maintained greenhouses to be able to grow mangoes in them and achieve a 10% increase in production. The technical engineer Ignacio Escobar explains that the plan would be to "convert old and unused greenhouses to plant mangoes in them, as they would neither need any major modifications nor a strong investment, while the owners could obtain a good yield and profits. The result would be a high productivity with a sustainable cost."
The property includes a greenhouse where mangoes were grown about five years ago. Although they have not yet reached their peak in productivity, they do offer an average yield of 25,000 kilos per hectare, which is approximately 10% more of what they would achieve in an open ground plantation.
Technicians have found more advantages in greenhouse mango cultivation than there are in open ground. Being under a plastic structure, there is also protection against excessive rains or winds, which are very damaging for mangoes. Trees are consequently healthier, which leads to fruit with a better colour, larger sizes and tastier flavour.
Temperatures within the greenhouse are also milder and can be better controlled. Growers can also be sure to have mangoes during at least five months of the year instead of three, as it is the case with open ground plants. This way, "the harvest can be advanced to August for the early varieties and for late ones it can be extended for another month, until Christmas. Greenhouses also prevent the appearance of major mango pests, such as anthracnose and bacteriosis."
Source: granadahoy.com
Source: granadahoy.com