Sustainable Litchi Cultivation

Publication of this book entitled "Sustainable litchi cultivation: Current CO2 assimilation-tree water relations & nutrition programme optimization" is the compilation of original research works by the authors as well as review works aiming to serve the students, academicians, farmers and entrepreneurs. Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) is an important sub-tropical fruit crop known as the "Queen of Fruits" due to its bright red-pink fruit colour against glossy-green leaf foliage. One major problem of commercial litchi cultivation is its low, variable and erratic bearing. The results of in-depth investigation and research work on this problem along with scientific analysis and inference have been elaborated by the authors in this book. Leaf flushing in relation to N fertilizer application, soil and index tissue analysis for pre-bearing and post-flowering nutritional status and tree water status-current CO2 assimilation relations were found critical for flowering, fruit retention and sustainable yield of litchi. Technology for optimization of current CO2 assimilation-tree water relations and nutrition programme had been recommended in this book for sustainable litchi cultivation.