Improving fruit set, yield and fruit quality of Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn. cv. Rose Scented) through foliar spray of different concentrations of macro and micro nutrients

Abstract

Foliar application of macro and micro nutrients influencing the fruit growth quality of litchi cultivars was investigated by applying calcium urea borax multiplex and potassium nitrate either alone or in combination with each other. The objective of this investigation was to see the effect of nutrients viz., urea (1%), KNO3 (2%), calcium chloride (1%), borax (1%), multiplex (0.4%) and their combinations on fruit quality and shelf life of litchi cv. Rose Scented. The litchi cultivar varied significantly for quantity and quality traits. Calcium chloride (CaCl2), Boron or Multiplex alone when applied alone as foliar spray had no significant effect on most of the quality attributes, however, Urea + borax (1% + 1%) application on Litchi fruit showed highest fruit retention (44.7 %), fruit yield (74.80 kg/tree), fruit size (3.78 cm), TSS (22.54%), reduced fruit cracking and acidity as the fruit prolonged towards maturity. Thus foliar application of Urea + borax (1% + 1%) was an optimum dose for maintaining the physio-chemical properties of Litchi fruit cv. Rose Scented.