Influence of Soil Application of Vermicompost Combined with Spraying of Melatonin on the Productivity and Fruit Quality of Mango

Abstract

Using organic materials in fruit production is an effective way to reduce dependency on chemical fertilization. This can cause many problems for the soil, increase beneficial microbes, and improve fruit quality. Organic fertilization provides the necessary nutrients to fruit trees safely, without causing any undesirable effects on soil fertility. Therefore, this study was conducted to examine the effects of soil application of vermicompost (VC), either alone or combined with spraying melatonin (MT), on the vegetative growth, productivity, and nutritional status of mango cv. Keitt. Mango trees were fertilized in January 2024 and 2025 with VC at 0, 3, and 5 kg for tree, then sprayed three times starting mid-February with 0, 50, and 100 mg L⁻¹ MT at 20-day intervals compared to untreated trees. The treatments were arranged in a split-plot design within a randomized block design with five replicates. The results indicated that adding VC to the soil and spraying MT significantly enhanced the growth, productivity, and fruit quality of mango trees. The combined application of VC with MT spraying showed a notably greater increase than the individual treatments. The best results were achieved with 5 VC + 100 MT, followed by 5 VC + 50 mg L⁻¹ MT, outperforming other treatments across the two seasons.