Influence of NAA and Zinc Sulphate on Fruiting Parameters and Marketable Yield of Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) cv. Rose Scented

Abstract

This experiment was conducted in 2022 and 2023 at the Horticulture Garden, Department of Fruit Science, C.S. Azad University of Agriculture and Technology, Kanpur (U.P.). On three replications with sixteen treatments, the Factorial Completely Randomized Design (CRD) was used, four levels of NAA (0, 25, 50, and 75 ppm), zinc sulphate (0, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 percent), and their combination were sprayed twice, on January 28 and March 16 of each year, respectively, before flowering and fruit setting (at pea stage). This study examines the effects of NAA and ZnSO4 on litchi cv. Rose scented for enhanced flowering, and high yield of improved quality fruits of litchi. According to the findings, the treatment with NAA 50ppm and 0.4% zinc improved fruiting-like; fruit set per panicle (258.90 and 259.41), fruit count before the second foliar spray at the pea stage (45.81 and 49.19), fruit count at pit hardening stage (39.15 and 38.70), fruit count at ripening stage (22.80 and 23.44) with a decreased fruit cracking (2.14 and 2.10) and higher yield of marketable fruits (78.34 and 78.29 kg/plant). The consequences of the medium concentration also showed the highest physical parameters of fruit length (3.57 and 3.60 cm), largest fruit diameter (3.22 and 3.20 cm) and fruit weight (20.12 and 22.28 g). It was concluded that the application of NAA and zinc had a non-significant impact on fruiting and quality of litchi, resulting in maximum fruit set and retention and yield-related characteristics like fruit weight that ultimately led to an increase in the yield per plant.