Improvement in fruit quality and economic returns in litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) cv. early large red with foliar application of micronutrients

Abstract

An experiment was conducted during 2014–15 on 23-year-old trees of litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) cultivar Early Large Red to evaluate the effect of foliar application of calcium, zinc, and boron at different concentrations on fruit yield, quality, and economic returns. Significant improvements were observed in fruit yield and quality attributes with boron application. Foliar spray of borax at 0.80% resulted in the highest number of fruits per branch (196.1), fruit weight (21.97 g), fruit length (3.69 cm), and quality fruit yield (2757.5 kg/acre), along with the lowest net loss (3.34%). This treatment also led to superior fruit quality in terms of higher TSS, reducing and non-reducing sugars, sugar: acid ratio, and the lowest acidity. Notably, the highest fruit breadth (3.15 cm) was recorded with borax at 1.0%. Economic analysis revealed that borax at 0.80% yielded the highest net returns (₹177,442/acre) and the best benefit-cost ratio (B:C) (4.48), making it the most economically viable treatment. Among all treatments, borax at 0.80% proved most effective in enhancing both productivity and profitability in litchi cultivar Early Large Red, suggesting its suitability as a key foliar nutrient strategy for improving commercial litchi cultivation.