Namaste to our dear farmers! We welcome you to the fascinating world of lychee cultivation. If you’re thinking of starting a lychee orchard, you’ve made a wonderful choice. Lychee is not only one of the juiciest and most delicious fruits but also offers numerous benefits. To have the best lychee plantation, let’s embark on a journey from the basics to the intricacies of growing lychee in India. 

An Overview of Lychee

Lychee, scientifically known as Litchi chinesis, belongs to the Sapindaceae family. It has a lovely red colour, juicy translucent pulp, and pleasant flavour due to which it is known as the queen of fruits. Lychee originated in South China and is now cultivated in many tropical and subtropical regions in the world, including India. It was introduced into India during the 18th century in the North Eastern region(Tripura). The major lychee-growing states of India are Tripura, Assam, West Bengal, Bihar, Odisha, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. 

You might wonder, why exactly do you plant lychee? So to answer this question let’s look into it.

Why do you need a Lychee Orchard?

Lychee is an important commercial fruit crop in India due to its tremendous seasonal demand and export potential. 

The nutritional information of lychee are

Nutrients	Content
Sugar	10%-22%
Protein	0.7%
Fat	0.3%
Minerals(Calcium and Phosphorus)	0.7%
Vitamin C	64mg/100g pulp

Lychee also has considerable amounts of Vitamin A, B1, and B2. 

This nutrient availability gives you a good reason to grow lychee plantations.

Lychee is used in various forms and makes an excellent canned fruit. Lychee squash is a delicacy during the summer months. You can also make pickles and wine from lychee. This product variety ensures a good market for you after harvesting, adding to another reason why you should have a lychee orchard this season. 

Indian farmers can exploit the international lychee market as India has a unique lychee harvest season starting from 15th April in Tripura and lasting to the end of June in other states giving enough time to import to other countries. 

Now that you got to know about the advantages of growing lychee, let’s look into how to grow lychee.

How to Grow Lychee?

Let’s see how you can grow lychee such that you get the best yield, the essential parameters, seed quality, manuring, irrigation, weeding, harvesting and post-harvest care. 

Ideal Parameters for growing Lychee

1. Soil 

Lychee grows best in deep well-drained loam soil rich in organic matter. The water table is optimum at least 1.25m deep. It prefers slightly acidic to neutral soil of pH 6.0 to 6.5. 

2. Climate 

Lychee prefers a moist subtropical climate. You should take note to avoid winter frost and dry heat areas. Lychee grows best in lower elevations. The temperature ideally should not go beyond 40 degrees Celsius in summer and below the freezing point in winter. Also, good rain or an adequate supply of irrigation is essential for lychee cultivation.

Improved Varieties of Lychee 

1. Shahi
2. Early Bedana 
3. Late Bedana 
4. Ajhauli
5. China 
6. Bombaiya
7. Dehra Rose

Litchi Propagation 

Litchi trees are commercially propagated through vegetative methods because seedlings take much longer to bear fruit and may not produce the desired characteristics. The various methods are:

• Sexual propagation with seeds is mainly used to develop rootstocks for grafting. However, litchi seeds have a very short viability period and require specific care for germination.
• Vegetative propagation offers several advantages:
  • Air layering is the most widely used technique. It’s ideally done just after fruit harvest during the monsoon season. A healthy branch is selected, a ring of bark is removed, and rooting hormone is applied to promote root growth. The area is then wrapped with moss to retain moisture.
  • Wedge grafting is another method where a chosen scion (shoot) from a preferred variety is grafted onto a rootstock seedling grown from seed. This technique is typically performed during the rainy or spring season.

Nursery Management

Nursery management plays a vital role in ensuring the health and success of young litchi plants.

 

• The potting mix should be well-draining and provide good aeration. It’s beneficial to incorporate soil from a mature litchi orchard to encourage mycorrhizal colonization, which aids in root development and plant growth. In areas with termite problems, using anti-termite pesticides or neem cake in the potting mix is recommended.

 

• Aftercare of newly planted air layers is critical. Maintaining optimal temperature, humidity, and irrigation under shade is essential for successful establishment. Regular monitoring and control of pests and diseases like litchi mites, leaf-cutting weevil, and shoot borers are also necessary.

 

• Root development can be improved by using root trainers for the initial two months. These containers allow for air pruning of primary roots, stimulating the growth of secondary and tertiary roots for a more robust root system.

By following these propagation and nursery management practices, you can increase your chances of establishing healthy and productive litchi trees.

Planting and Orchard Establishment

Site Selection

Selecting the right location for a lychee orchard is crucial. Lychee needs a frost-free climate with mild cold (8-14°C) before flowering, moderate temperature and humidity during flowering and fruiting, and no high-speed winds during fruit development. 

Ideal soil is deep, well-drained, mildly calcareous, and rich in organic matter. Although lychee can grow in various soil types, sandy loam with high moisture-holding capacity is best. Mildly acidic soil (pH 6.0-8.5) is also beneficial. Poor soils can be improved with farmyard manure and compost. Additionally, access to infrastructure like cold storage and transport is essential.

Land Preparation and Layout

Clear the land of bushes and weeds, plough deeply, and level with a slight slope away from the water source. Add organic matter and incorporate green manure crops like dhaincha or sun hemp to improve soil fertility, moisture retention, and structure.

Planting Techniques

Lychee trees are usually planted at a spacing of 8-10 meters apart. The planting time varies by region but is generally done during the monsoon season to ensure adequate water supply. Young plants need regular watering and protection from extreme weather conditions​​.

Nutrient Management

Inadequate nutrition lowers lychee yields, so balanced nutrition is essential for both young and mature trees. Mature trees yield 80-120 kg depending on the variety. Regular manure and fertilizer are necessary due to nutrient loss from pruning.

Nutritional needs vary by soil fertility. For instance, Doon Valley soils lack nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), while Punjab lacks N, potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), and manganese (Mn). Soil testing is advised for optimal nutrient application.

For young trees, use 30 kg decomposed FYM, 2 kg Neem/Karanj cake, and 150 g each of urea, SSP, and murate of potash, increasing annually. A 16-year-old tree needs 80-100 kg FYM, 4 kg Neem/Karanj cake, 2 kg urea, 1.5 kg SSP, and 0.8 kg murate of potash.

Organic manure boosts fruit yield and quality. Apply lime (10-15 kg/tree every 3 years) in acidic soils. Essential micronutrients include zinc, boron, magnesium, iron, and copper. Apply FYM, potash, and phosphate fertilizers in June-July after harvest, or September-October in high rainfall areas.

Apply nitrogen in two doses: after fruit set (March-April) and post-harvest. Irrigate after fertilization. Basal application typically covers nitrogen, phosphorus, and potash needs. Foliar sprays of 2% urea and 0.2% zinc sulfate (pre-flowering and pea stage) improve fruit size and quality.

Irrigation and Water Management

Irrigation is vital for lychee cultivation, especially during dry periods and fruit development stages. Young plants should be irrigated weekly, while mature trees benefit from irrigation every 2-5 days during fruit development. Mulching with organic materials helps in moisture conservation and reduces weed growth. Drip irrigation systems are highly effective in maintaining consistent soil moisture levels.

Flowering and Fruiting

Optimal soil moisture and humidity are vital for lychee growth and fruit production. In regions with 1000 mm annual rainfall, supplementary irrigation is needed only during fruit development. Young plants (first 3-4 years) need protection from extreme temperatures and weekly irrigation. During dry periods and winter, irrigate young plants every 10-15 days and mulch to conserve moisture.

Mature plants should be irrigated every 2-5 days during fruit development to maintain humidity. Irrigation every other day, six weeks before harvest, improves fruit retention and quality, and reduces cracking. Mulching helps conserve moisture. Proper water and nutrient management minimizes disorders like poor fruit set and cracking. From early April, light irrigation every 4-5 days is crucial for aril development and preventing fruit cracking. Drip irrigation from the fruit set stage is highly beneficial.

Insect Pest and Disease Management

Common pests affecting lychee include fruit borers, mites, and bark-eating caterpillars. Regular monitoring and integrated pest management (IPM) practices are essential to keep these pests under control. Effective pest management includes orchard sanitation, the use of biological control agents, and the application of appropriate insecticides. Diseases like anthracnose and powdery mildew can be managed through timely fungicide applications and maintaining proper orchard hygiene.

Maturity and Harvesting

Lychee fruits are typically ready for harvest 100-120 days after flowering. Harvesting should be done when the fruits attain full size and colour. It is best to harvest in the morning to avoid heat stress on the fruits. Post-harvest handling includes cooling and proper packaging to maintain fruit quality during transport.

Monthly Calendar of Operations

A monthly calendar of operations helps in the timely execution of various cultivation practices. Key activities include:

• January: Pruning of mite-infested shoots, setting pheromone traps for fruit borers.
• February: Nutrient application based on leaf analysis, placing honey bee colonies for pollination.
• March: Irrigation management, and pest control measures.
• April: Light irrigation, pest and disease monitoring.
• May: Fruit thinning, nutrient application.
• June: Regular irrigation, and pest control.
• July: Fertilizer application, canopy management.
• August: Drainage management, pest control.
• September: Light ploughing, pest monitoring.
• October: Copper deficiency correction, pest control.
• November: Irrigation management, pest monitoring.
• December: Zinc sulfate application, irrigation cessation.

Conclusion

The cultivation of lychee involves careful planning and execution of various agricultural practices. Each step is crucial for achieving high yields and quality fruits, from selecting the right site and preparing the soil to managing pests and diseases. By following the guidelines provided by the National Research Centre for Litchi, farmers can optimize their lychee production and contribute to the growing demand for this exotic fruit.

By implementing these best practices, lychee growers can ensure sustainable and profitable production, meeting both local and international market demands.

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