Adoptive Irrigation for Enhanced Mango Mangifera Indica L. cv Carabao Production in Upland Areas in Bataan, Philippines

Current challenges related to climate change include the preservation of agricultural productivity. In the Philippines, the management of irrigation is becoming increasingly important for Mango cultivation. This study emphasizes that efficient and effective irrigation can be attained by accurately determining and applying the optimal amount of water. This approach not only maintains crop yield but also promotes the judicious use of water resources. Water usage in a Mango orchard in Bataan, Philippines, was assessed using sap flow meters to provide precise measurements. The study site is at coordinates N 14° 65.988’ and E 120° 46.527’ in Barangay Dangcol, City of Balanga, Balanga, Bataan, Philippines. Nine Mango trees were selected and characterized for the study. Each irrigation treatment involved three Mango trees (Treatment 1 – no irrigation, Treatment 2 – 50% of irrigation water, Treatment 3 – 100% of irrigation water). Before commencing the experimental irrigation, the installed devices underwent testing, observation, and analysis. The collected data indicated an average water consumption of approximately 92.6 liters per day per Mango tree, which was applied to the designated experimental Mango trees. The findings indicate that Treatment 3 demonstrated significant advantages over other treatments, manifesting in increased fruit yield, larger individual fruit sizes, greater average fruit weight, and reduced instances of fruit rejection and deformities. This experiment concludes that the precise application of irrigation water vital to Mango tree requirements can yield an additional 85.69% in Mango production compared to non-irrigated conditions, translating to an estimated financial benefit of approximately Php 207,050.00 per hectare for the farmers.