EVALUATION OF SOME LITCHI CULTIVARS UNDER SHIWALIK FOOTHILLS OF HIMACHAL PRADESH
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Date
2020-08
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NAUNI,UHF
Abstract
ABSTRACT
The present investigation was carried out in Regional Horticultural Research and Training
Station of Dr YS Parmar University of Horticulture and Forestry at Dhaulakuan, Sirmour (HP) during
2019-20. The experimental site is located at 35.5o North latitude and 77.5o East longitudes at an
elevation of 468 meters above mean sea level. Full bearing trees of 20 years age group of five litchi
cultivars namely, Early Large Red, Dehradun, Calcuttia, Rose Scented and Seedless Late were
selected to study the cropping behavior, flowering, fruit yield and quality characteristics. The results
showed a significant variation in vegetative growth characteristics viz., plant height, trunk girth,
canopy diameter, leaf area, TCSA, TCV, CA, length of panicle, fruit drop, fruit retention, fruit yield,
fruit weight, stone weight, and fresh weight of aril, pulp weight fruit cracking was observed among
different litchi cultivars. In general, the flower bud differentiation in the cultivars started in the month
of December and completed in the first week of February. The earlier bud burst was observed in Early
Large Red followed by Dehradun, Calcuttia and Rose Scented variety. Maximum percentage of tree
spread was recorded in Dehradun variety (72.6%) followed by Seedless Late (35.2%), Rose Scented
(18%) and Early Large Red (14%) increased compared to Calcuttia. Dehradun observed maximum
fruit set (56.71%) followed by Early Large Red (54.08%) which was found at par with the cultivars
Seedless Late (52.07%) and Calcuttia (53.19%). The results also showed remarkable variations among
different litchi cultivars in respect of fruit quality characteristics. Among different cultivars, variable
leaf nutrient concentration in terms of DOP showed that Early Large Red, Dehradun and Calcuttia
exhibited a positive value of DOP for leaf N, P and, K except Seedless Late and Rose Scented, where,
it was negative for leaf N and K.