Effects of Girdling and Foliar Spraying with Monopotassiumphosphate and Ethephon on Flowering of Lychee cv. Hong Huay and cv. Chakrapad

Abstract

The study on effects of girdling and foliar spraying of monopotassiumphosphate plus ethephon on flowering of lychee cv. Hong Huay and cv. Chakrapad was investigated in Mae-rim District, Chiang Mai. This experiment was designed based on factorial in randomized complete block design including 2 factors 1) lychee  cultivar (‘Hong Huay’ and ‘Chakrapad’), and 2) cultural practice (control, girdling, foliar spray with 1% of 0-52-34  plus ethephon 400 ppm, and girdling plus foliar spray with 1% of 0-52-34 plus ethephon 400 ppm ). The result showed that girdling plus fertilizer spraying with 1% of 0-52-34 mixed with ethephon 400 ppm promoted the earlier flowering of around upto 10 days at both cvs. Hong Huay and Chakrapad, and significantly gave the highest percentage of flowering of 78.5 percentage. In addition, the same treatment also gave the widest panicle size 10.61 cm, the highest flower numbers per panicle at 678.2 flowers and the highest percentage of fruit set of 47.47 percent.