Pg. 8-11 Are Higher Density Litchi Orchards Practically and Economically Justified?

Economic realities compel producers to strive for higher production at the earliest possible stage after planting. In this way establishment costs can be recouped earlier and profits from the orchard acquired sooner. More intensive plantings that fully utilise the available soil surface area will enable the producer to realise these goals. To maintain intensive plantings a tree management programme must be implemented. Such a programme requires additional inputs. These inputs can easily be standardised and executed by mechanical means. The question is whether such inputs can be recouped by higher yields. In this article a comparison is made between an orchard planted at 12 x 8 m (104 trees/ha) as opposed to one planted at 8 x 4 m (312 trees/ha). Figures are in most cases a simulation from information gathered commercially. Results clearly show that the more intensive planting will increase profitability in the initial years if the necessary pruning actions are applied. Various recommendations are listed.

Summary:

• Economic pressure drives producers to seek higher early production to recoup establishment costs and achieve profits sooner.
• More intensive planting maximizes soil surface area use and can increase profitability when combined with proper tree management and pruning.
• The article compares traditional 12 x 8 m spacing (104 trees/ha) with more intensive 8 x 4 m spacing (312 trees/ha), mostly through simulations and commercial data.
• Extensive orchards take many years for trees to fill space, leading to large, hard-to-manage trees with shaded interiors, reducing yield and ease of harvest.
• Intensive plantings fill space earlier (about 8 years vs 20 years for wider spacing) and require a tree management program for pruning and shaping to avoid overcrowding and overshadowing.
• Tree management goals include maximizing light penetration, stabilizing tree size and shape, balancing growth and fruiting, and maintaining productivity.
• Establishment costs are higher for dense plantings due to more trees and irrigation; production costs are also higher because of pruning and management needs.
• Simulated yield curves show higher initial yields and profits for denser plantings, with profitability achieved earlier compared to conventional spacing.
• Over 10, 20, and 30 years, profit per hectare is consistently higher for the 8 x 4 m spacing when proper pruning and management are applied.
• Recommendations for new orchards include planting in a North-South rectangular layout, intensively managing tree size and shape, careful timing of pruning, and considering soil and input capabilities.
• Future plantings of 300 to 600 trees per hectare are suggested for better early production and economic returns with manageable tree sizes.
• Mechanical pruning and selective branch cutting, starting with some training in the first two seasons, are key for maintaining orchard productivity.
• Overall, higher density litchi orchards can be practically and economically justified with the right management inputs, leading to earlier and higher profitability.