Growth and fruit development of mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.) in related with plant nutrients during phenological development

The imbalance or deficiency of essential nutrients in soils and plant may cause poor fruit quality of mangosteen fruit; translucent flesh disorder (TFD) and internal gumming fruits. Therefore, an investigation of nutrient changes in soils and plant (root, branch, leaf and fruit) of mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana L.) during phenological development is a useful guideline for fertilizer management. This research aimed to investigate the pattern of plant nutrients accumulation and nutrient requirement during phenological development of the mangosteen trees. Soil sampling was taken at 4 depths; 0-15, 15-30, 30-50 and 50-100 cm, from soil surface around the middle of the tree canopy and analyzed for some important chemical and physical properties. Roots, branches, leaves and fruits from mangosteen trees at 4 periods of growth; preflowering, flowering, fruit development (from bloom to 7th week) and harvesting were sampled, and analyzed related to the changes of soil nutrients. The results indicated that the soil texture varied from sandy clay loam to clay loam (Ruso soil series (Ro); Typic Pelehumults). In addition, the natural soils in mangosteen orchards was strong acid to very strong acid (pH 4.62-4.93, soil:water = 1:5). Mangosteen trees might take high amounts of nutrients from the surface soils (0-15 cm) as follows: N, K, Mg and S for growth in the preflowering period; N, K, S and B in the flowering period; K, Ca and Mg in the 1st half of fruit development period (bloom to 7th week of fruit development) and P in the 2nd half of fruit development period (7th week of fruit development to harvest) compared to other growth periods. The results also showed that in the root, branch and leaf, mangosteen trees required higher amounts of Ca for growth in the preflowering period; K, Mg and S in the flowering period; N in the 1st half of fruit development period and K, Mg and B in the 2nd half of fruit development period compared to other growth periods. In the fruit, N, K, Ca and B contents in the peel of normal fruit were higher than those of TFD fruit, whereas K, Ca, S and B contents in the flesh of normal fruit were higher than those of TFD fruit.