Jai Hind Nursery
Bhiwadi Rajasthan
INTRODUCTION
Litchi (Litchi chinensis) is a delicious juicy fruit of excellent quality. Botanically it belongs to Sapindaceae family. The translucent, flavoured aril or edible flesh of the litchi is popular as a table fruit in India, while in China and Japan it is preferred in dried or canned state.
Growing and Potential Belts
In India, the commercial cultivation was traditionally restricted to the north in the foot hills of Himalayas from Tripura to Jammu & Kashmir and plains of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. However, with growing demand and viability of the crop, commercial cultivation has spread to several other states viz. Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh etc.
Varieties Cultivated
State-wise commercially grown varieties are given below .
Varieties:-
Bihar & Jharkhand:-
China, Deshi, , Purbi, Early & Late Bedana, Mclean, Muzzaffarpur, Rose Scented, Shahi, Kasba
Orissa:-
Muzaffarpur, Bombai, China
Punjab & Haryana:-
Saharanpur, Dehradun, Calcuttia, Muzaffarpur, Seedless (Late) & Rose Scented
Uttaranchal:-
Rose Scented, #Calcuttia #Early & Late Seedless
Uttar Pradesh:-
Seedless Early, Seedless Late, Early Large Red, Late Large Red, Calcutta, #Rose Scented #Dehradun
West Bengal:-
#Muzaffarpur #China #Purbi #Elachi Early #Elachi Late #Bomba #Goothi #Bedana #Potee #Kalyani Selection
Planting:-
Air layering is the most common method of propagation. It is usually done in the beginning of monsoon and the air layers can be detached from the mother plant after 40-50 days.
The details of planting operations are given below :
Usual Practice:-
Planting Time:- August - September
Planting may be done in spring and early summer if irrigation facility is available
Planting Distance:-
10 m (both between the plants and rows)
8 m (when the climate is comparatively dry and the soil is not so fertile).
Average no. of plants- 200 per ha.
Size of pits
1x1x1 m (pits are dug a few weeks prior to planting)
Filling of pits
Pits are left undisturbed initially for a period of 15-20 days.
Filled with top soil mixed with manures and fertilizers @ 20-25 kg FYM, 2 kg bonemeal and 300 g muriate of potash per pit
A basket of soil taken from old litchi orchard is added to each pit to ensure mycorrhizal association with litchi roots.
Pits are then watered so that the soil settles down.
Planting:-
Square system of planting is usually followed.
A small hole is made at the center of the pit and the desired material is planted. Water is applied immediately after planting
Inter-cropping:-
Litchi is a long gestation crop taking about 5-6 years to the fruiting stage. Inter-cropping is feasible in the first three or four years. Apart from giving good annual income during the non-bearing period, inter-crops protect the young litchi plant, enrich the soil, improve the physical condition of the soil and keep the weeds under control.
22 май 2024
