Impact of foliar applied Ethrel, potassic compounds and thiourea on flowering and fruiting attributes of Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.)

Abstract

Plant growth regulators and nutrients play a significant role in altering plant growth subsequently yield and quality. The impact of foliar application of ethrel, potassic compounds [Potassium nitrate (KNO3), Potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KH2PO4) and Dipotassium hydrogen phosphate (K2HPO4)] and thiourea on flowering and fruiting characteristics of Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) was explored in an experiment based on a randomized block design with thirteen treatments and three replication at HRC, GBPUA&T Pantnagar (India). The treatments included T1 [ethrel (400 ppm)], T2 [KNO3 (1%)], T3 [K2HPO4 (1%)], T4 [KH2PO4 (1%)], T5 [thiourea (1%)], T6 [K2HPO4 (2%)], T7 [KH2PO4 (2%)], T8 [K2HPO4 (1%) + KNO3 (1%)], T9 [KH2PO4 (1%) + KNO3 (1%], T10 [K2HPO4 (1%) + thiourea (0.5%)], T11 [KH2PO4 (1%) + thiourea (0.5%)], T12 [KNO3 (1%) + thiourea (0.5%)] and T13 as control. The foliar spray of these chemicals was done thrice from end of September to November at 20 days interval. Early panicle initiation, advancement in flowering (3 days), maximum number of female (324.63) and total flowers (836.39), highest fruit set per panicle (59.49), minimum fruit drop (75.90%) and highest yield (43. 82 kg/tree) was observed in treatment T2 [KNO3 (1%)] whereas, highest fruit weight (20.99g) and aril weight (17.30g) was observed in T1 [ethrel (400 ppm)] treatment. Maximum flowering intensity and highest pulp recovery was reported in T9 [KH2PO4 (1%) + KNO3 (1%] and T4 [KH2PO4 (1%)] treatments, respectively.