ISHS Acta Horticulturae 349: V International Symposium on Orchard and Plantation Systems
AUTUMNAL WATER STRESS CHECKS VEGETATIVE GROWTH AND INCREASES FLOWERING AND YIELD IN LITCHI (LITCHI CHINENSIS SONN.) |
| Authors: | R.A. Stern, S. Gazit |
| Abstract:
Litchi trees tend to develop into large trees. The regular "fertigation" regimes that have been implemented in Israeli litchi orchards tend to accelerate vegetative growth. At the same time flowering and yield are poor. Experiments conducted over three consecutive years demonstrated that low productivity and excessive vegetative growth can be rectified by applying autumnal water stress. Irrigation was cut off at the end of September and trees were kept stressed for 6–8 weeks, until the beginning of the winter rains in November-December. Water stress checked the fall vegetative flush and significantly increased flowering and yield the following spring and summer. It usually doubled the yield, while limiting increases in tree size and conserving irrigation water. | |
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