The purpose of this study was to define a strategy of efficient irrigation water management to allow maximization of mango crop yield. This goal was sought to obtain irrigation sustainability, by means of an efficient use of water for this crop. The experiment was carried out at Mangal - Frutas Tropicais de Exportação Limited farm, located at 35 km on Teresina - Palmeirais highway, in the State of Piaui. The experiment followed a random block design with six treatments and four replications. The treatments were: no irrigation, irrigation depth equivalent to 0.44, 0.55, 0.86, 1.00 and 1.37 of ETo, determined by using Class A pan evaporation. The variables evaluated were: productivity, weight and number of fruits per plant. Soil water content was monitored using neutron probe in 60 mm PVC tubes, installed at a distance of 1,0 m from trunk at depths of 0.3; 0.5 and 0.7 m for the six irrigation regimes in all blocks. Soil water content was measured twice a week, before irrigation. Estimated maximum commercial yield (12.491 t ha-1) was obtained for the water depth of 601.05 mm.
Mangifera indica L.; irrigation management; evapotranspiration
