Pruning Intensity Research Articles

Impact of pruning intensity of Dalbergia sissoo Roxb and turmeric on Monetary return

A field experiment was conducted at the Research Farm, of New Dusty Acre Area, Department of Forestry, College of Agriculture, JNKVV, Jabalpur (M.P.) during, 2015-16. The experiment involve four pruning intensities + open condition (only crop) in main plot and three different dates of planting in sub plot under strip plot design with four replications. The results revealed that, 25 per cent pruning recorded higher net monetary return (Rs 94062 ha), as compared to 50 per cent pruning (Rs 82125 ha), over the open condition recorded significantly lowest net monetary return.

Effect of tree pruning intensity on the content of mineral components in the sour cherry leaves of ‘Łutówka’

Abstract The aim of the study was to estimate the effect of' tree pruning intensity on the content of nutrients in leaves of the ‘Łutówka’ sour cherry cultivar (Prunus cerasus L.). Between 2006 and 2010 an experiment with different tree pruning intensity was carried out. The study material consisted of first- class one-year old budded plants of the ‘Łutówka’ cultivar IR2 type, on Prunus mahaleb rootstock. The plants were planted in the spring of 2001 (orchard 1) and 2002 (orchard 2) and spaced at 4.0 × 1.3 m2, giving a total of 1.920 trees ha−1. Three pruning regimes were applied in the plantation: 1) no pruning; (only sanitation felling was applied), 2) moderate traditional pruning - branches were shortened, 3) intensive pruning by removing branches older than three years. The cherry tree pruning intensity significantly influenced the content of mineral components in leaves. The content of N increased, whereas the content of Ca and Mg decreased. The maximum temperatures at the beginning of the growth period had particularly beneficial effect on the P and K content. Chilly and dry spring limited the P and K content in the plants. The content of minerals in sour cherry leaves depended on the age of trees.

Stem pruning severities affect growth, physiological and quality consequences in high density planting system of mango (Mangifera indica) in Shiwalik foothills

The study evaluated the influence of shoot pruning intensities on physiological and quality consequences of mango under square system of planting between 2014 and 2016 in Shiwalik foothills. Three mango cultivars, viz. Mallika, Dashehari, and Amrapali, planted under high density were selected purposely. Tip pruning of frost injured shoots significantly influenced growth, flowering, yield and quality traits of the cultivars compared to un-pruned trees. The results revealed early flower initiation with peak period of flowering among the treatments. Shoot pruning slightly delayed but more uniform flowering comparative to control. After 20th harvest season, the cultivar significantly affected generative parameters (TCSA, TCV, CA and yield efficiency). Number of sprouted shoots per scaffold branch (primary, secondary) was highest in Dashehari followed by Amrapali and Mallika irrespective of shoot differentiation. Dashehari recorded maximum length of panicles, length of flowering shoot, number of panicles/shoot, fruited panicles, fruit set, and fruit retention with least fruit drop when the shoots were pruned in frost affected twigs (terminal branches) shoot differentiation. The best yield and yield efficiency over the 20th leaf harvest was recorded in Mallika followed by Amrapali and Dashehari. Variable shoot pruning intensities showed significant effects on fruit physical-biochemical traits and foliar nutrient concentration of the cultivars. DOP indexing showed close agreement to diagnose N, P, K, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn and Mn excess among different cultivars studied. PCA of agromorphometric and fruit quality traits was also worked out. prin4 accounted for 99.5% (agro-morphometric traits) and 97.9% (fruit quality) of the cumulative variance of cultivars. PCA-F1 had the highest positive loadings (plant height, tree girth, annual shoot extension growth TCSA, and TCV) followed by PCA-F2 (yield). None of the significant differences were obtained when the calculated factor scores of PCA-F1, PCA-F2 and PCA-F3 for attributes analyzed. Conclusively, shoot tip pruning could be recommended for restoring maximum production and quality fruits in high density square planting system of mango.

Effect of rejuvenation pruning on the growth, productivity and disease incidence in declining trees of pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) cv. Kandhari Kabuli

Pruning of fruit trees is an important aspect for the improvement of fruit quality and to minimize the pests and disease attack. Pruning was performed in the month of December in seven year old unpruned trees of Punica granatum cv. Knadhdri Kabuli having many interfering branching and a heavy infestation of bacterial blight orchard. The pruning treatments viz., T1: Retention of 15cm fruiting shoot length, T2: Retention of 30cm fruiting shoot length, T3: Retention of 45cm fruiting shoot length, T4: Retention of 60cm fruiting shoot length and T5: control (No heading back and no thinning) plant. The results of the present investigation revealed that among different pruning treatment, the best results in terms of shoot extension (56.34 cm), fruit size (Diameter 9.66 cm and Length 9.65 cm, fruit weight (278.50 g), marketable yield (10.25 kg) and fruit qualities were in fruits from T1 and T2 where retention of 15cm fruiting shoot length respectively and retention of 30cm fruiting shoot length were maintained. However, maximum fruit set (54.73%) was recorded in control, and it decreased with increasing pruning intensity. The pruning treatments also proved beneficial in controlling bacterial blight on fruit (12.86%) and leaf surface (26.60%) to some extent.

Vegetative and productive behavior of kiwifruit ‘Elmwood’ submitted to pruning with different bud loading levels

Abstract The objective of this study is to evaluate the vegetative and productive behavior of kiwifruit trees cv. ‘Elmwood’ submitted to different intensities of pruning, in “Serra Gaúcha” region. Treatments consisted in maintaining different bud load levels in each cane of 10, 15 and 20 buds cane-1. The experiment, carried out during the 2016/2017 vegetative season had a completely randomized design with nine repetitions per treatment. Bud fertility, vegetative, productive and fruit quality features were evaluated. The percentage of mixed buds was higher next to the cane apex in three different treatments, while in the base of each cane ocurred the highest percentage of non sprouting buds. The decrease in the number of buds per cane induced larger leaves and increased leaf dry matter. Longitudinal and transversal diameter of fruits and fruit mass were inversely proportional to the number of buds per cane. Pruning of ‘Elmwood’ kiwifruit tree with different number of buds did not influence the index of real bud fertility, but affected directly leaf and shoot size. Pruning maintaining canes with 10 buds favors the increase of fruit weight and did not reduce productivity.

Quality peach produced in fertilizer doses of nitrogen and green pruning

ABSTRACT The increasing consumer demand for fruit quality justifies the development of researches that combine orchards management and consumers’ perception of the quality of the product. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of nitrogen fertilization combined with green pruning intensity on fruit quality of ‘Chimarrita’ from high density peach trees during three consecutive harvest seasons. For this purpose, urea composed of different nitrogen rates (0, 40, 80, 120, 160, 200 and 240 kg.ha-1.year-1) was applied, under two intensities of green pruning (annual – once per season; or continuous – four times per season) in a factorial scheme (7 × 2). Fruits have been subjected to physical, chemical and sensorial analysis, made by 60 non-trained evaluators in each of the harvest seasons. The results showed that the cumulative effect of applying N in the third harvest season improved SS attributes, SS/TA ratio and fruit skin color to the dose of N of 148 kg.ha-1 .year-1. There is no difference between green pruning intensity and peach fruit quality.

Increasing the tolerance of fig tree to drought stress by trunk thinning

The fig tree is native to Iran, east of Asia and Syria. Shortage of precipitation and drought is one of the greatest problems in rain-fed fig cultivation areas. A random complete block design with three replications was used to investigate the effect of trunk thinning on drought disorders. Since 'Sabz' fig trees are trained with multiple trunks, 16 intensities of trunk thinning applied during winter pruning were compared. The treatments were obtained pruning five different groups of tree to leave 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 trunks tree-1, respectively. The pruning intensity of each of the 16 treatments was evaluated calculating the ratio between the total circumference of the remaining trunks and the total trunk circumference before the application of thinning treatment (here after trunk diameter ratio). The results suggested that the different levels of trunk thinning had positive effects on leaf width, leaf number, leaf water potential, leaf temperature, fig fruit color and size. Thinning all the trunks had the best effect on tree vegetative appearance under drought stress conditions. Trunk thinning treatment that pruned trees to leave 2 trunks and provided a trunk diameter ratio of 0.5 was more suitable than other treatments in terms of vegetative growth and fruit quality and quantity. The latter pruning strategy is recommended for increasing tree tolerance to drought, fruit yield and quality. This will increase grower income and allow the protection of rain-fed fig orchards in dry years.

How planting density and grazing intensity affect the above- and below-ground carbon pools in a dryland ecosystem?

Climate change is known as one of the most important environmental challenges. Sequestration of carbon in terrestrial ecosystems is a low-cost option that may be available in the near-term to mitigate increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations, while providing additional benefits. In this study, we estimated the effects of planting density and grazing intensity on the potential of Atriplex canescens for carbon sequestration in a rangeland in Qazvin Province, Iran. The experimental design consisted of a randomized block design, including two planting densities (2 × 2m and 4 × 4m) and four grazing intensity treatments simulated by different plant pruning intensities. We observed no significant difference between the rate (%) of organic carbon in the treatments of density, grazing intensity, and their interaction in the 0-30cm and 30-80cm soil layers. Between the treatments of height pruning, control (no pruning) and light grazing, had the highest total biomass and total carbon. The total biomass carbon content of 2370 kg m-2 in the 2×2m treatment was about twice as much that of 4x4m treatment. These findings can be useful in rangeland management plans.

Management of Dalbergia sissoo in farm conditions using different pruning intensities

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Responses of vegetative growth and fruit yield to winter and summer mechanical pruning in olive trees

Mechanical pruning has become increasingly common in olive orchards, particularly under high tree densities. Large cutting disks make heading cuts at a single canopy depth without discriminating between branch thickness, size, or type of branch. The objectives of this study were to: (i) quantify the responses of vegetative growth over two growing seasons and yield components over three seasons following different intensities and moments of application of mechanical pruning; and (ii) evaluate some leaf morphology and gas-exchange characteristics of the remaining leaves after pruning. Five year-old olive trees with high crop load (cv. Arbequina) were pruned towards the end of the winter (W) or early summer (S). Three intensities of winter pruning representing different distances (0.25, 0.50, 0.75m) from the outer canopy surface were applied, while there was only a single summer pruning treatment (0.75m). The vegetative growth variables measured after pruning included new branch number and length, new leaf number, and increase in trunk cross sectional area. Reproductive variables included fruit and oil yield, fruit number, fruit weight, and oil content per fruit. Growth of new branches increased significantly with winter pruning intensity while delaying pruning to early summer reduced regrowth to the level of the unpruned control. Despite differences in yield in individual years between the unpruned control and the winter pruning treatments, the average yield over the three years after the winter pruning event was similar between all trees. Delaying the intense pruning to summer was associated with some reduction in yield, and moderate winter pruning (0.50m) appeared to partially reduce alternate bearing. When measured shortly after winter pruning, specific leaf mass of the remaining leaves decreased steadily as the level of winter pruning increased, which is consistent with prior shading within the tree. The leaf net photosynthetic rate per unit mass was also different between pruning treatments. In conclusion, our results contribute to filling the gaps in knowledge related to important aspects of olive tree responses to the intensity and timing of mechanical pruning.

Quantifying pruning impacts on olive tree architecture and annual canopy growth by using UAV-based 3D modelling

BackgroundTree pruning is a costly practice with important implications for crop harvest and nutrition, pest and disease control, soil protection and irrigation strategies. Investigations on tree pruning usually involve tedious on-ground measurements of the primary tree crown dimensions, which also might generate inconsistent results due to the irregular geometry of the trees. As an alternative to intensive field-work, this study shows a innovative procedure based on combining unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology and advanced object-based image analysis (OBIA) methodology for multi-temporal three-dimensional (3D) monitoring of hundreds of olive trees that were pruned with three different strategies (traditional, adapted and mechanical pruning). The UAV images were collected before pruning, after pruning and a year after pruning, and the impacts of each pruning treatment on the projected canopy area, tree height and crown volume of every tree were quantified and analyzed over time.ResultsThe full procedure described here automatically identified every olive tree on the orchard and computed their primary 3D dimensions on the three study dates with high accuracy in the most cases. Adapted pruning was generally the most aggressive treatment in terms of the area and volume (the trees decreased by 38.95 and 42.05% on average, respectively), followed by trees under traditional pruning (33.02 and 35.72% on average, respectively). Regarding the tree heights, mechanical pruning produced a greater decrease (12.15%), and these values were minimal for the other two treatments. The tree growth over one year was affected by the pruning severity and by the type of pruning treatment, i.e., the adapted-pruning trees experienced higher growth than the trees from the other two treatments when pruning intensity was low (<10%), similar to the traditionally pruned trees at moderate intensity (10–30%), and lower than the other trees when the pruning intensity was higher than 30% of the crown volume.ConclusionsCombining UAV-based images and an OBIA procedure allowed measuring tree dimensions and quantifying the impacts of three different pruning treatments on hundreds of trees with minimal field work. Tree foliage losses and annual canopy growth showed different trends as affected by the type and severity of the pruning treatments. Additionally, this technology offers valuable geo-spatial information for designing site-specific crop management strategies in the context of precision agriculture, with the consequent economic and environmental benefits.Graphical

Effects of different times and intensities of fructification pruning in camu-camu plants

Effects of different times and intensities of fructification pruning in camu-camu plants

Effects of different times and intensities of fructification pruning in camu-camu plants

Effects of different times and intensities of fructification pruning in camu-camu plants

Morphological and physiological acclimation of Catalpa bungei plantlets to different light conditions

This study was performed to evaluate the ecophysiological acclimation of Catalpa bungei plantlets to different light conditions. We hypothesized that the acclimation of old and newly developed leaves to both increasing and decreasing irradiance should follow different patterns. The growth, photosynthesis, chlorophyll (Chl) content, and Chl fluorescence response were examined over a range of light treatments. The plants were grown under fixed light intensities of 80% (HH), 50% (MM), 30% (LL) of sun light and transferring irradiance of 80% to 50% (HM), 80% to 30% (HL), 30% to 50% (LM) and 30% to 80% (LH). For old leaves, light-saturation point, photosynthetic capacity, dark respiration rate of LH were lower than that of HH, while HL were higher than LL, indicating that light-response parameters were affected by the original growth light environment. Initial fluorescence increased and variable fluorescence decreased in LH and LM after transfer, and the PSII damage was more serious in LH than that in LM, and could not recover within 30 d. It suggested that the photoinhibition damage and recovery time in old leaves was related to the intensity of light after transfer. For the newly emerged leaves with leaf primordia formed under the same light environment, a significant difference was observed in leaf morphology and pigment contents, suggesting that previous light environment exhibited carry-over effect on the acclimation capacity to a new light environment. Our result showed that thinning and pruning intensity should be considered in plantation management, because great changes in light intensity may cause photoinhibition in shade-adapted leaves.

Control of the vegetative growth of 'Shinseiki' pear trees by prohexadione calcium and root pruning

Abstract: The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of prohexadione calcium (P-Ca) and root pruning (RP) on the control of the vegetative growth and on fruit production and quality of 'Shinseiki' pear trees, under the climatic conditions of Southern Brazil. The experiment was conducted during the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 crop seasons, in a 15-year-old orchard of 'Shinseiki' pear trees, trained to a central-leader system, with a 2x5 m spacing between plants, grafted onto Pyrus calleryana rootstock. The experiment was carried out in a randomized complete block design, with six treatments and four replicate. The treatments consisted of the control (without P-Ca application or RP), two P-Ca rates (300 and 600 mg L-1), two root pruning intensities (performed on one or on both sides of the tree), and root pruning on one side + 300 mg L-1 P-Ca. P-Ca reduced vegetative growth more effectively than RP, in both crop seasons, and the combination of both techniques did not result in additional control of the vegetative growth, compared with P-Ca alone. Vegetative growth was not affected by increasing the rates of P-Ca. The highest P-Ca dose negativelly affected fruit yield. Regarding fruit quality, RP increases the total soluble solids content at harvest.

Novel approach to assessing residual biomass from pruning: A case study in Atlantic Pinus pinaster Ait. timber forests

Forestry residual biomass from pruning operations is an important, though little studied, potential resource. Residues normally remain in the stand, since tools for their accurate quantification do not exist and it has no particular end use. Traditional tree biomass estimation models consider the whole-tree, but estimating pruned biomass requires the development of more specific equations. This work provides a modelling approach for assessing biomass along the stem and the corresponding residual biomass from forest pruning, and quantitative results from different pruning intensities in Pinus pinaster Ait. are presented. Two types of models were considered: allometric biomass equations (whole-tree) and biomass ratio equations (tree by height along the stem), and the 2-parameter Weibull distribution function resulted in the best characterization. Diameter at breast height was the best explanatory variable in all equations, and model accuracy increased when models were combined with total tree height for the tree stem and thicker branches, or with crown ratio for the remaining tree crown components. This study provides a powerful tool to estimate residual pruned biomass, enabling its better management as a valuable source of bioenergy, as well as the importance in nutrient balance and fire risk which it plays in a sustainable forestry production.

PRODUCTION, PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL QUALITY AND BIOATIVE COMPOUNDS OF MISTY BLUEBERRY FRUIT UNDER DIFFERENT PRUNING INTENSITIES

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of pruning intensity on yield and quality of blueberries fruits. It was evaluated the cultivar Misty. The treatments were: absence of pruning; light pruning; regular pruning and drastic pruning. The experimental design was randomized blocks with four replications. The variables analyzed were fruit production, fruit size, pH, total soluble solids (TSS) and total titratable acidity (TTA), and the bioactive compounds such as phenolic compounds, anthocyanins and antioxidant activity. The plants that received drastic pruning showed higher averages of production and fruit size. The highest concentrations of phytochemical compounds in blueberry fruits occurred as pruning was more drastic. The use of different intensity of pruning can modify the productive behavior and postharvest quality of fruits.

Effects of pruning intensity on jujube transpiration and soil moisture of plantation in the Loess Plateau

In order to ease soil desiccation and prevent ecological deterioration in the Loess Plateau, where jujube (Zizyphus jujube MIll) is widely cultivated as a drought tolerant plant, four pruning intensities (PI), from PI-1 (light) to PI-4 (heavy) were set up based on total length of secondary branches to study the effects of pruning on transpiration and soil moisture in jujube plantations. Furthermore, growth indexes were regularly monitored to estimate jujubes biomass. Sap flow, meteorological and soil moisture conditions were monitored using thermal dissipation probes (TDP), weather station (RR-9100) and the combination of time domain transmission (TDT) technology and neutron moisture gauges (CNC503B), respectively. The results showed that daily actual transpiration of jujube was positively correlated with leaf biomass. Compared with PI-1, jujube transpiration during growth period under PI-2, PI-3, and PI-4 dropped by 11.1%, 29.2%, and 47.9%, respectively. On the contrary, annual water storage under PI-2, PI-3, and PI-4 increased by 6.29 mm, 25.78 mm and 34.74 mm while water use efficiency increased by 5.1%, 15.7% and 24.2%, respectively. Overall, increase in pruning intensity could significantly reduce water consumption of jujube and improve soil moisture in jujube plantations.

PRODUCTION, PHYSICAL-CHEMICAL QUALITY AND BIOATIVE COMPOUNDS OF MISTY BLUEBERRY FRUIT UNDER DIFFERENT PRUNING INTENSITIES

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of pruning intensity on yield and quality of blueberries fruits. It was evaluated the cultivar Misty. The treatments were: absence of pruning; light pruning; regular pruning and drastic pruning. The experimental design was randomized blocks with four replications. The variables analyzed were fruit production, fruit size, pH, total soluble solids (TSS) and total titratable acidity (TTA), and the bioactive compounds such as phenolic compounds, anthocyanins and antioxidant activity. The plants that received drastic pruning showed higher averages of production and fruit size. The highest concentrations of phytochemical compounds in blueberry fruits occurred as pruning was more drastic. The use of different intensity of pruning can modify the productive behavior and postharvest quality of fruits.

Standardization of harvesting methods in litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) cv. Bombai

Standardization of harvesting methods with different intensity of pruning (non removal of fruiting branch i.e. removal of fruits from the branch only; harvesting of fruits along with the fruiting branch from the base; pruning of 5, 10, 15 and 20 cm branches along with fruiting branch) during harvesting and their effect on flowering and fruiting was studied at the farmer's field, Beniagram, New Farakka, Murshidabad, West Bengal during 2009. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with four replications on 25 years old plant at spacing of 10 m x 10 m. Pruning of 10 cm branches produced the maximum number of primary (1.94) and secondary rachis (19.58) per panicle with more number of hermaphrodite flowers (390.86) and the lowest sex ratio (2.81, M/F) whereas maximum number of flowers (1499.38) per panicle was noted due to 15 cm pruning. Initial (61.80 fruits/panicle) as well as final (20.47 fruits/panicle) fruit set per panicle was found maximum by pruning of 10 cm branches followed by 15 cm branches with 59.73 and 17.51 fruits/panicle, respectively. Pruning of 20 cm branches increased fruit weight (22.06 g), pulp weight (15.96 g) and size (3.94 x 3.53 cm) of fruit. Higher cumulative yield per plant by pruning of 10 cm (91.59 kg) and 15 cm (85.86 kg) branches was noticed as compared non removal of fruiting branch (64.06). From the investigation it was suggested that moderate pruning of 10 to 15 cm branches during harvesting is beneficial to obtain higher yield with quality fruits.