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Effect of Growth Regulator and Irrigation on Fruit Cracking and Yield of Litchi in the Hilly Area

S. N. Mozumder
Senior Scientific Officer, Spices Research Centre, BARI, Joydebpur, Gazipur

S. M. Faisal
Senior Scientific Officer, Agricultural Research Station, Pahartali, Chittagong

D. Sultana
Senior Scientific Officer, Planning and Evaluation Wing, BARI, Gazipur

Z. A. Firoz
Principal Officer, Hill Agricultural Research Station, Ramgarh, Khagrachari

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The experiment was conducted at the Hill Agricultural Research Station, Ramgarh, Khagrachari Hill District during July, 2010 to June, 2011. A factorial complete randomized design was followed with three irrigation levels (at 7, 15 days intervals and control) and four chemical treatments viz. GA3 100ppm, Ethephone 18 mmole/l, 1% ZnSO4 and control with three replications. Both the factors irrigation and chemical showed significant effect on most of the yield attributes and fruit characters. Irrigation significantly increased litchi yield by increasing number and size of the fruits as well as reduced cracking. Ethephone and GA3 reduced cracking whileZnSO4 increased number of fruit and yield. Edible portion (%) seed size and TSS had minimum variation with irrigation or chemical spray. Any one of the three chemicals (Ethephone, ZnSO4or GA3 ) spray with weekly irrigation increased marketable yield of litchi in the hilly areas of Bangladesh.

Keywords: Growth Regulator, Irrigation, Fruit Cracking, Yield, Litchi, Hilly Area

Location: At the Hill Agricultural Research Station, Ramgarh, Khagrachari Hill District

Start Date: 00-07-2010

End Date: 00-06-2011

Program Area: Quality and Nutrition

Commodity: Litchi, Growth regulator, Water management

Objectives:

The present work was undertaken to find out the effect of growth regulator and water supply for reducing fruit cracking and to increase litchi yield in the hilly areas.

Methodology:

The experiment was conducted at the Hill Agricultural Research Station, Ramgarh, Khagrachari Hill District during July, 2010 to June, 2011. A complete randomized design (factorial) was followed having three levels of irrigation (at 7, 15 days intervals and control) and four chemical treatments viz. GA3100ppm (Sing and Lal, 2003), Ethephone 18 mmole/l and 1% ZnSO4 (Peng et. al., 2003) and control (no spray) with three replications. A popular well adopted litchi variety China-2 which have profuse bearing but prone to cracking, were used in the experiment. Out of more than 800 fruiting litchi trees in the experimental station, 36plant having similar age (15 years), canopy and size were selected in November, 2009 for applying the treatments. Each plant was considered as a treatment. The rainfall of the experimental area in January, February, March, April and May, 2010 was 15.24, 0.00, 32.07, 83.02 and 405.0mm, respectively. The canopy areas of selected plants were cleared removing weeds and stubbles in December, February and April to minimize sharing of water, fertilizers and space with litchi plants with others. All plants were fertilized two times in June and September, 2009 with each blanket dose of cowdung, urea, TSP and MoP @ 10.0, 1.0, 1.5 and 0.6 kg /plant, respectively.Irrigation and chemical application according to the treatment was started after flowering (Mid February) and at the pea stage of fruits (1st May), respectively. Each irrigation were provided with 100 liter of water for each plants thus ensured moderate soaking by the upper surface of the canopy soil (around 10 m² ) of all plants using watering cane. The soil was lightly spaded and many small barrier was made to minimize surface run-off thus ensured proper water use efficiency. Chemical was sprayed onto the flowering shoots, tender fruits and leaves of the plant for three times at middle of February, March and April according to treatment. Irrigation and spray was stopped after April as due to heavy rainfall. Data on number of inflorescence/plant, number of fruits per inflorescence and fruit characteristics were recorded from each plant. Single fruit weight, fruit size, seed weight, skin weight, TSS (%) and edible portion were recorded randomly selected 10 fruits from every harvest of each plant. Fruit yield and edible portion was calculated from other related parameters. Data were analyzed using MSTAT software and mean separation was done by Duncan’s New Multiple Range Test (Zaman et al., 1987).

Source of Information: International Journal of Advanced and Innovative Research (2278-7844) / # 104 / Volume 5 Issue 10

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Budget:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Irrigation significantly increased litchi yield by increasing the number and size of the fruits as well as reduced cracking. All the chemicals reduced cracking except ZnSO4 but showed positive effect of all yield and yield attributes. GA3, ZnSO4 and Ethephone spray with weekly irrigation can be suggested for higher marketable yield of litchi in the hilly areas of Bangladesh.

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