Fertiliser Recommendations for Horticultural Crops
Lychees (Litchi)

Lychees (Litchi chinensis) could be grown only in the warmest parts of New Zealand. For best growth they require abundant moisture.

PLANT ANALYSIS
Samples for leaf analysis consist of the middle pair of leaflets from the second composite leaf located behind the fruiting stalk and towards the stem. These should be collected 6-10 weeks prior to harvest. The range of nutrient concentrations expected in healthy tissue sampled at this time of year are give in Table 1.

Table 1: Typical concentrations
Element Range
Macronutrients (%)
Nitrogen
Phosphorus
Potassium
Calcium
Magnesium
Sodium

Micronutrients (ppm)
Manganese
Iron
Zinc
Copper
Boron


1.5-2.0
0.1-0.3
0.7-1.4
0.5-1.0
0.25-0.60
< 0.10


40-400
25-200
15-25
5-20
15-50

FERTILISER REQUIREMENTS
Young trees should be supplied with 100-200 g of a 6:6:5 NPK fertiliser every couple of months during the growing season. By the third year, trees should be supplied with about 1 kg of such a mix per year for every 2.5 cm of trunk diameter. Similar programmes should be suitable for larger plants.

FURTHER READING
Loebel, R. (1975). The Litchie. Bulletin H6.1.4, Series 6, (Agdex 270/20), Division of Horticulture, New South Wales Department of Agriculture, Australia.

Yee, W. (1972). The Lychee in Hawaii. Circular 366, Cooperative Extension Service, Unviersity of Hawaii, USA

Copyright © 1995 The Horticulture and Food Research Institute of New Zealand Ltd. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of The Horticulture and Food Research Institute of New Zealand Ltd. is prohibited.