Growing dinamyc and nutrient extraction of litchi fruit (Litchi chinensis sonn) cv. Brewster

The experiment was conducted in a 7 years old Brewster litchi orchard, the aim was to determine the dynamic of fruit growth, identify the critical moments of nutrient demand and determine fruit nutrient extraction. A completely randomized experiment was held in 25 trees in which 4 fruits were labeled to monitor from day 22 after anthesis to maturity; six samples of fruit were taken to quantify fruit nutrient extraction, total weight of fresh fruit, pericarp, seed and aril. Results indicate that the pattern of fruit growth is simple sigmoidal character with an intensive fruit growth of 30 days. Dry matter accumulation and aryl formation begin at 35 d after anthesis; the composition of the fruit at harvest time is 22 % pericarp, 30 % seed and 48 % of mesocarp. The nutrient extraction in kg per ton of fresh fruit is N 2.8, P2O5 1.1, K2O 3.4, CaO 0.94 and MgO 0.12.