The unique Geology of Konkan and its rich contribution to alphonso mango plantation
Reddish soft as an inner core and seasoned hard blackish shell is how the laterite looks like as.
Primary laterite is a rock with properties such as fine grains and monogenous in texture
Primary Laterite is formed on the upper hilly region of Sahyadri mountain ranges where deccan plateau in south central India meets coast of Arabian sea, the belt of Konkan in Maharashtra. It is also deposited as secondary laterite over the foothills of Sahyadri mountain range million years ago.
However secondary laterite formation is also found on the coastal region of entire Indian peninsula on east and west coast
The Konkan belt from Mumbai to Goa is dense with secondary laterites from 200 ft of altitude on Sahyadri mountains towards the coast of Arabian sea.
Thickness of secondary laterite is around 35 feet in Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg district in Konkan. Towards malvan in south Konkan the rocks are gneissic and metamorphic in origin.
The maximum distribution of the laterite of India is found on Sahyadri western ghat range and south of Konkan. Laterite looks if compacted soil on quarrying. It’s very soft and hardens over period of time.
Alphonso mango tree plantation is done in such freshly excavated pits in laterite of western coast of Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri region.
The laterite is pit of meter a depth is porous laterite filled with red and black soils and further for nourishment cow dung, the seaweeds and sometimes superphosphate is admixed. Antitermite is also added to soil where termite prone land is found.
It is found that calcium-rich zeolites are present in the basalt born sand fractions for around 2-3%, helps in providing nutrition to the young alphonso mango plants. Also, smectite-rich weathered basalt also helps alphonso trees to yield best quality aromatic and delicious fruits.
With the sweetness of alphonso, the saline breezes of Arabian sea towards coastal region provides the unique taste to this divine fruit.
The heaviest rainfall this region receives in monsoon just after alphonso harvest. The laterite erosion makes all the streams and rivers reddish during this season. The flowering and fruit bearing starts in winter with 120 to 150 days till full maturity and their harvest. The www.alphonsomangoes.online hails from the Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg region with the farms on the coast belt very proximity to Arabian sea. Mother Earth has sacred geology in Konkan belt which brings you this divine fruit to relish for many more years to come.
