Yield and Bearing Constancy of Some Commercial Litchi Cultivars

Five litchi cultivars, were evaluated for 5 years. They differed significantly with regard to their yield potential. ‘Rose—scented’ gave the highest yield (115.24 kg/tree). ‘Shahi’ was adjudged the second best (102.64 kg/tree). Cultivar ‘China’ proved biennial bearer and yielded 82.16 kg/tree. ‘Purbi’ and ‘Bedana’ with their respective yields of 87.96 kg/tree and 79.44 kg/tree appeared to bear more precociously and regularly than others. There was strong negative correlation (r = —0.9) between yield and rainfall during flower and fruit setting. Higher chilling and lower rainfall prior to flowering appeared to influence yield favourably, but the results were not always consistent.