Fibersol Fiber,Dietary Fiber,Bar Ingredients Qingdao Bailong Huichuang Bio-tech Co., Ltd. , https://www.sdblcycn.com
High-yield, stable yield cultivation techniques of Zizixiao litchi
Zizixiao Litchi is a premium Guangdong variety known for its early ripening, large fruit size, thick flesh, vibrant color, and excellent taste. It reaches its peak flavor when the pericarp turns greenish red. This variety exhibits strong adaptability to various climates and has vigorous growth with easy flowering. However, it also faces challenges such as excessive flowering, early blooming, and difficulties in fruit setting.
Over the past decade, our province has focused on improving fruit production by combining traditional cultivation techniques with physical and chemical control methods. By leveraging the tree’s strong growth and pruning response, we increased planting density to promote early fruiting, high yields, and stable production, making Zizixiao a fast-growing and high-yield variety.
Proper and close planting is a key technique in modern fruit production, helping transition from extensive to fine management. It enables earlier harvests and higher yields. Shuzixiao responds well to pruning, allowing dense planting and dwarf cultivation. According to Ye Qinhai, a litchi expert from Dongguan, this method can achieve high and stable yields. In some areas, yields have reached 2,600 kg per mu, which is ten times the provincial average. Planting density varies depending on conditions—35-50 trees per mu for large-scale, and 75 trees for small-scale. Under favorable conditions, up to 100 trees per mu can be planted.
To cultivate an early and high-yield canopy, a round, well-structured crown with even branches and good light penetration is essential. Zizixiao has strong tree vigor, with obvious apical dominance. Good water and fertilizer conditions lead to long branches and sparse crowns. Through three years of pruning, Ye Qinhai achieved a well-developed canopy with 37 parent branches and about 198 fruiting shoots annually. After six years of pruning, the tree had 102 mother branches and produced over 1,159 fruits. Annual pruning kept the height and crown within 2.5 meters, promoting balanced branching and early, high-yield results.
Young litchi trees should be pruned frequently, with short cuts to increase shoot density. Branches and lateral shoots should be trimmed carefully to form a rounded, high-yield canopy. Once the tree reaches a height and width of 1.5 meters with over 30 mother branches, it can enter the fruiting stage.
Gardenia Laughing shows flower bud differentiation within 40–56 days under 20°C daytime and 15°C nighttime temperatures. In Guangdong’s winter, this condition is easily met, leading to early flowering in young trees. To prevent premature flowering, lyophilization should start every two weeks from mid-October, applied three times to encourage winter shoots and inhibit flower buds. If flowers appear, they should be removed in March.
For high-quality mother trees, timely autumn shoots are crucial. In Guangzhou, the last autumn shoot typically appears between late September and early October. Controlling fertilizer, pruning, and bud wiping helps prepare for the next season. Mother branches should be healthy, with thick leaves and no pests or diseases. From December to January, their diameter should reach 0.5–0.6 cm, length 30–40 cm, and have 70–80 leaflets.
Deep soil cultivation promotes deep root growth, enhancing tree vigor. Many litchi gardens have shallow soils, requiring deep turning and organic fertilization to improve soil structure. Timely irrigation is more important than fertilization for mother tree development. During dry periods, water should be applied every 7–10 days. In late December to January, proper watering is also needed.
Fertilization should include bran or chicken manure water before fruit picking. For a 50 kg fruiting tree, apply 2 kg peanut bran or 15–20 kg chicken manure, plus 1.5–2 kg compound fertilizer, 0.5–1 kg urea, and 20g boric acid. Foliar sprays like compound nucleotides, 0.1–0.2% green rice nitrogen, or 0.2% potassium dihydrogen phosphate plus 0.1% zinc sulfate should be used regularly. Lime should be applied in winter.
Post-harvest pruning involves retractive and sparse trimming. Prune about 15 days after harvesting to allow nutrient accumulation. Remove overlapping branches, leaving only a few leaves at the base. New shoots should be thinned, leaving 2–3 per shoot. This helps develop strong mother branches. Research shows that pruning after harvest increases new shoot emergence and improves flowering potential.
Pest control follows the "one tip and two drugs" principle. Early autumn shoots can be sprayed with insecticides or exterminators, followed by a second treatment after 15 days. Winter shoot control involves timely autumn shoot growth, chemical spraying, and manual removal or ring cuts.
High fruit-setting rate flower spikes require careful management. Without proper treatment, the fruit set is low. Using measures like “one touch, two sparse, three short cuts†can delay flowering, extend female bloom periods, and increase pollination time. Spiral girdling and chemical treatments help control flowering and promote better spike quality.
Improving fruit quality and yield involves managing root and shoot growth. Cutting the main branch or using spiral girdling can reduce fruit drop. After processing flower spikes, multiple fruiting peaks occur. Harvesting in batches ensures better quality, with the first batch being the largest and most valuable.
During the final stages of fruit development, applying potassium-rich fertilizers and managing pests is critical. Spraying insecticides and fungicides prevents damage. The best time to harvest is when the fruit is 80% mature, with a greenish-red peel, offering the best flavor and nutritional value. Full red fruit has lower acidity and vitamin C, reducing quality. Thus, the ideal harvest time is when the fruit shows a “Jade Lotus†appearance.