Production Technology of Longan

 

Production Technology of Longan (Dimocarpus longan) :

• Climatic and Soil Requirements:
• Requires warm subtropical climate with high rainfall.
• Ideal winter: Short and frost-free.
• Ideal summer: Long, hot, humid, and wet.
• Optimal temperature for flowering and fruit set: 20 to 25°C.
• Soil: Deep, well-drained, fertile soil; pH 5.5 to 6.0, low salinity.
• Cultivars:
• Fu yan: Large fruits (18g), thin skin, crisp flesh, small seed. Ideal for canning.
• Wu long line: Medium-sized fruits (15g), thick skin, sweet flavor.
• Wu yuan: Medium-sized fruits (15g), large seed, soft and juicy flesh.
• Daw: Popular in Thailand. Large fruit, big seed, thin skin, crisp sweet flesh.
• Propagation and Planting:
• Propagation: Air layering or marcotting.
• Land preparation 3 to 6 months ahead of planting.
• Planting distance in high-density planting (HDP) system: 6 M x 6 M.
• Pit size for planting: 1 M x 1 M x 1 M.
• Training, Pruning, Irrigation, and Manuring:
• Early growth encouraged for good tree size and canopy within 3-4 years.
• Fertilization: Organic manures and urea.
• Training height: 2 M.
• Irrigation: Frequent, especially before flower emergence and post-harvest.
• Harvest and Yield:
• Harvest after full maturity and ripening.
• Average yield: 100 – 120 kg/tree/year.
• Storage: 4-6 weeks at 5°C.

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