This research was carried out to evaluate the effects of stem diameter and layer pruning on the development and nutrient accumulation in litchi grown on substrate. The variety used here was Bengal. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design in a factorial 3 x 2 with eight replications, with three layer diameters: thin (1.0 ± 0.5 cm); medium (2.0 ± 0.5 cm) and thick (3.0 ± 0.5 cm) and pruned and not pruned layers. Litchi plants were grown for 140 days after planting the layers. The dry matter of shoot branches and roots and the levels of macro and micronutrients were evaluated. The best litchi plants were obtained from thick, pruned layers. Not pruned layers with medium and thin diameter improved plant development in comparison to pruned ones. Thick layers showed higher nutrient accumulation in shoots and roots.
Litchi chinensis Sonn; air laying; thickness; macronutrients; micronutrients
