Pg. 16-17 The Litchi Production Planner – a software-based production guideline for litchi in South Africa

The South African litchi industry is predominantly export orientated and great effort is put into gaining high yields and marketable fruit size. In spite of profuse flowering, litchi yield is usually inadequate, mainly because of massive fruitlet drop during the early period of fruit development. Fruit size is often hampered by insufficient irrigation and fertilization during the critical periods of fruit development. Although good research has been done on various aspects of litchi production, this research often does not find its way into farm management.

These challenges in litchi production and technology transfer were the reason for a joined project by the Agricultural Research Council and a private consultant to adjust an existing software-based production planner for litchis. This production planner should serve as a practical guideline for litchi growers and combines “good agricultural practice” with research results in the area of irrigation, fertilization, use of plant growth regulators as well as other horticultural practices in order to reduce alternate bearing and increase yield and fruit size. The “Litchi Production Planner” includes fertilizer and irrigation scheduling according to tree requirement, phenological charts for each production area as well as other practices that need to be done during the year. The data is interlinked and guidelines for orchard practices are given according to tree phenology and fruit development.

Summary:

• The South African litchi industry is export-oriented but faces challenges like inadequate yields, alternate bearing, and high fruitlet drop.
• Fruit size and yield are affected by insufficient irrigation and fertilization during critical fruit development stages.
• Despite good research on litchi production, the knowledge often doesn’t reach practical farm management.
• To address this, a software-based production planner for litchi was developed jointly by the Agricultural Research Council and a private consultant.
• The Litchi Production Planner serves as a practical guideline combining research with good agricultural practices.
• It assists growers with irrigation scheduling, fertilization, use of plant growth regulators, pruning, girdling, and other horticultural practices aimed at improving yield and fruit size.
• The tool is built in Microsoft Excel and requires input of orchard-specific data such as cultivar type, tree spacing, soil properties, and irrigation details.
• It provides recommendations on nutrient distribution, irrigation scheduling, fertilizer application rates, and other crucial orchard practices linked to tree phenology and fruit development stages.
• The planner includes phenological charts tailored to various South African production areas to align management practices with tree and fruit growth stages.
• The software also factors in rainfall correction to optimize irrigation.
• The program aims to reduce alternate bearing and enhance litchi production efficiency.
• Growers are encouraged to provide feedback for annual updates and improvements of the planner.
• Financial support for this project was provided by the South African Litchi Growers Association and the Agricultural Research Council.