Evaluation of Organic Carbon and Macronutrient Availability in the Soils of Different Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) Cultivars

Abstract

Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.), referred to as the "Queen of Fruits," is a member of the Sapindaceae family. This fruit is subtropical and has high nutritional and commercial value. Although its production is influenced by a variety of soil and climate parameters, little scientific data exists regarding the soil quality for different litchi cultivars. The purpose of this study was to assess the amount of organic carbon and macronutrients present in the rhizosphere soils of nine different litchi cultivars: ‘Shahi’, ‘Rose Scented’, ‘Dehradun’, ‘Dehra Rose’, ‘Ajhauli’, ‘China’, ‘Mandaraji’, ‘Purbi’, and ‘Bombai’ that were gathered from the ICAR-National Research Centre on Litchi in Muzaffarpur, Bihar. In soil samples taken at a depth of 0–20 cm, the amount of organic carbon, phosphorous, nitrogen, potassium, and sulphur was evaluated. When compared to the control, all rhizosphere soils showed a significant decrease in organic carbon, phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium, with potassium showing the most pronounced depletion. All of the soil samples had insufficient amounts of accessible sulphur. The observed reductions in nutrient content, particularly potassium and sulphur, highlight the need for balanced nutrient management and cultivar-specific soil fertility management strategies to sustain litchi productivity.