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.