Effect of Water Sprinkling over Tree Canopy on Fruit Cracking, Quality and Yield of Litchi Fruits

Litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) is an important subtropical evergreen fruit crop of Sapindaceae family. Fruit cracking a serious problem in litchi happen during growth and its development. affect significant loss economic yield. coincides with period characterized by high day temperature (35-40°C) low relative humidity (60%). Effect water sprinkling over tree canopy on cracking, quality yield was evaluated under four treatments, namely T1 (4 micro-sprinklers per tree), T2 (3 T3 (2 T4 (without micro sprinkler) as control. Micro-sprinklers were tested for their hydraulic performance. Result revealed that, minimum i.e. .20.03, 18.49, 13.76 4.55% observed at 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 3.0 hours treatment T1. Highest (i.e. 65.27 q/ha) better fruits also found Contrary to this, maximum (30.16%), lowest (33.52 satisfactory (control). Linear relationship between discharge pressure; exponential pressure wetted diameter performance sprinklers.