Pruning Height Research Articles

Producción de biomasa de la morera (Morus alba) en la Meseta Central de Costa Rica.

A mulberry bush plantation in a lower montane wet forest was divided into three plots with a distance of 60,90 and 120 cm between rows and plants. Each plot was uniforrnly pruned at two heights: 30 and 60 cm above ground level. During a 336-day period, these subplots were pruned consecutively every 56th, 84th, and 112th day. The annual yield of dry material of the whole mulberry bush (stems and leaves) was highly influenced (P≤ 0.01) by each of the factors studied. Planting distance had a negative effect on the yield of stems and leaves as the distance increased. Biomass production, influenced by the variable pruning height, had a differential effect on the whole plant and on the production of leaves (P≤ 0.01), but not on the amount of stems (P>0.05). The cutting frequency had a marked influence (P≤ 0.01) on the production of biomass in the whole plant and its parts. A linear effect (P = 0.0 1) was observed on stem yield, as well as on the whole plant, as the cutting interval increased between the 56th and 112th days.

English

Tree pruning is a silvicultural operation that aims to improve wood quality, but care must be taken regarding the timing and height of the lift to ensure that tree growth is not negatively affected. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of different pruning heights on height and diameter growth of Eucalyptus grandis × Eucalyptus urophylla. The experiment was done in a one year old stand which was planted at 9 × 3 m spacing, managed under a silvopastoral regime, and located in Joao Pinheiro, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Pruning treatments removed branches carrying the lower green crown as follows: 0% (unpruned), 20, 40, and 60% of total tree height. Diameter at breast height (DBH at 1.3 m) and total height of all trees in the sample plots were measured prior to pruning and one year after pruning. Compared to the unpruned control, pruning significantly reduced mean DBH and total height in the 40 and 60% treatments but not in the 20% treatment. Thus, it was concluded that when pruning operation is done before canopy closure not more than 20% of lower green crow should be removed to avoid tree growth reduction. Key words: Silvopastoral regime, silvicultural intervention, forest management.

The control of penny fern in tea through pruning and herbicides

Study on the control of penny fern in tea through pruning and herbicides was con­duct­ed in Pasir Sarongge Experimental Garden, 1.100 m asl from August to November 2010. Experimental design used was split plot design, consisted of three main plots and six subplots. The main plot (pruning height) consisted of (A) 40 cm pruning height, (B) 55 cm pruning height, and (C) 70 cm pruning height. The subplot (method of weed control), consisted of: (1) glyphosate herbicide at 6 liters/ha, (2) paraquat dichloride herbicide, at 4 liters/ha, (3) 2,4-D herbicide, at 3-3 liters/ha, (4) a com­bination of glyphosate herbicide + 2,4-D at 6 liters/ha, (5) a combination of glyphosate and picloram herbicides, at 4 liters/ha, and (6) manual con­trol of the fern. The total treatment combination was 18 treatments. Each treatment was repeated twice. Observations were made on weed biomass and the growth of tea plants. Weed biomass were observed 3 times with 2-weeks interval, starting at 2 weeks after treatment of weed control.  The growth of tea plants was observed trought the number of primary shoots. The results showed that the 40 cm as well as 55 cm pruning height were provided better effectivity compared to 70 cm pruning height. At the third observation, the effectiveness of manual control was similar to the treatment of chemical control, except the treatment of single 2,4-D. The number of primary shoots grew on bush after 70 cm pruning height were higher and significantly different compared to the 40 cm pruning height as well as 55 cm pruning height. In every observations, the highest number of primary shoots per bush were consistently obtained from the treatment of combination of glyphosate and 2,4-D herbicides.

Maturation in Corymbia torelliana × C. citriodora Stock Plants: Effects of Pruning Height on Shoot Production, Adventitious Rooting Capacity, Stem Anatomy, and Auxin and Abscisic Acid Concentrations

Repeated pruning of stock plants is a common approach to delaying maturation and maintaining the propagation ability of cuttings, but little is known about the hormonal or anatomical basis for this phenomenon. We tested the effect of two different stock-plant pruning heights (15 cm and 30 cm) on shoot production, rooting capacity and rooted cutting vigour of six clones of the eucalypt Corymbia torelliana × C. citriodora. We determined whether differences in rooting potential were related to indole-3-acetic (IAA) and abscisic acid (ABA) concentrations, or the degree of lignification or sclerification, of the cuttings. Maintaining stock plants at 15 cm height sometimes reduced the production of stem cuttings. However, it often increased the ensuing percentage of cuttings that formed roots, with mean rooting across all clones increasing from 30%–53%. Therefore, the number of rooted cuttings produced by short stock plants was similar to, or higher than, the number produced by tall stock plants. Cuttings from shorter stock plants had faster root elongation and occasionally greater root dry mass, shoot dry mass or shoot height than cuttings from tall stock plants. These differences in rooting potential were generally not related to differences in IAA or ABA concentrations of the cuttings or to differences in their stem anatomy. Pruning at the lower height was more effective in maintaining clonal juvenility, supporting previous findings that stock plant maturation is a limiting factor in clonal propagation of Corymbia torelliana × C. citriodora.

Comparative Growth Analysis and Yield Performance of Glycine Max under Jatropha Curcas Based Agrisilviculture System of Agroforestry in the Northern Part of Bangladesh

This research was conducted at the Agroforestry Research Farm, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University to quantify the effects of pruning height in Jatropha curcas L. (Jatropha) and fertility levels of the recommended dose of NPK in Glycine max L. (Soybean) on crop growth parameters and yield in the agrisilviculture system of Agroforestry. The pruning in Jatropha and fertility level favored growth parameters with varying magnitudes. Six growth indices like CGR, RGR, NAR, LAI, RLGR, and SLW were observed to be higher under various pruning heights and reduced under no pruning. After that, scale of yield varied with pruning heights and fertility levels. Grain, straw and biological yield of 100 cm pruning height in Jatropha increased by 15.38 %, 13.74 % and 14.61 % respectively in comparison to sole crop and other pruning height level. At that time, I showed that these three yields of 100 % of the recommended dose of NPK (100 % RDF) in Soybean are comparatively higher than other fertility level. Hence, proper pruning system and optimum fertility level are important for improving Soybean yield under Jatropha based agrisilviculture system and it ensures higher income to the farmers and efficient land management compared to its sole cropping.

Effects of pruning and stand density on cone and pollen production in an experimental <i>Pinus sylvestris</i> seed orchard

Seed orchards are the link between tree breeding and reforestation. This paper presents data on cone, seed and pollen production and seed quality gathered over 21 years in a (L.) experimental seed orchard containing plots with 14 different combinations of stand density and targeted pruning height. The treatments’ stand densities ranged from 267 to 4000 stems ha, and the target graft heights ranged from 2 to 6 meters. Pollen production began at the same orchard age for all studied combinations of stand density and target height but the level of pollen production per hectare increased more rapidly in treatments with higher stand densities. In treatments with dense spacing, cone and seed production initially increased more rapidly than in treatments with wider spacing, thereby providing an earlier return on investment and a shorter seed production lag time. However, the levels of cone and seed production in such treatments over the entire study period were not appreciably different to those achieved in treatments with wider spacing and higher target height. The treatments did not differ substantially with respect to seed quality. These results show that comparable levels of seed production can be obtained with different combinations of stand density and target height, giving seed orchard owners and managers a wide range of viable management options.Pinus sylvestris-1

Effect of Heading Back on Photosynthesis, Yield and Fruit Quality in Pear

A field study was conducted to examine the effect of heading back of pear plants on photosynthesis, yield and fruit quality in pear trees cv. ‘Patharnakh’. Plants were maintained at heights of 1.0 m, 1.5 m, 2.0 m, 2.5 m and 3.0 m from ground level by removing top of the canopy during dormant season, while the control trees were not given any pruning treatment. The photosynthesis rate (Pn) and photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) were taken from April to July at fortnightly interval. Highest Pn of leaves trees was observed at morning time and it showed a positive relationship with PAR received. Both increased with advancement in season and recorded maximum in the 2 nd fortnight of June, thereafter declined slightly. PAR and Pn increased with intensity of the pruning. Upper canopy of all the treatments recorded highest photosynthesis rate. Fruit yield per tree increased as the pruning height was raised and was recorded maximum in 2.5 m level of pruning. Fruit size enlarged linearly with the intensity of pruning. Pruning treatment improved soluble solids content of fruit.

Effect of pruning frequency and pruning height on the biomass production of Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl) A. Gray

Addition of tree or shrub prunings through alley cropping or biomass transfer systems have contributed to sustainable land-use systems in the tropics. Long term productivity of biomass transfer systems require shrub or tree species that coppice after cutting to provide sufficient plant nutrients. The effect of pruning frequency and cutting height on the biomass production of Tithonia diversifolia was studied to provide information for managing hedges. Results showed that height of cutting, pruning frequency, and their interactions significantly affected dry matter production of T. diversifolia. The results also showed that a significantly higher biomass production could be produced when Tithonia was pruned at long time intervals. Pruning height was also of importance in the harvesting of Tithonia biomass and it was evident that dry matter production was highest when Tithonia was pruned bimonthly at 50 cm height. With bi-monthly pruning frequency, dry matter production could be as high as 7.2 t ha−1 yr−1 which might be a sufficient biomass to improve soil productivity in biomass transfer systems.

Poda apical, densidade de plantas e cobertura plástica do solo na produtividade do tomateiro em cultivo protegido

O objetivo deste trabalho foi o de avaliar o efeito de duas combinações entre densidade de plantas e altura de poda apical, associados à utilização de cobertura plástica do solo, sobre o desenvolvimento e a produção de frutos do tomateiro, híbrido Duradoro (EMBRAPA), em ambiente protegido. Foram estabelecidos dois sistemas de cultivo com haste única: SC1 - poda apical após a 5ª inflorescência, com 20.000 plantas ha-1 e SC2 - poda apical após a 2ª inflorescência com 50.000 plantas ha-1; e três condições de cobertura do solo: solo nu; filme de polietileno branco e filme de polietileno preto, adotando-se o delineamento em blocos ao acaso, em esquema de parcelas subdivididas. O experimento foi desenvolvido de junho a novembro de 2003, na UNESP, Câmpus de Ilha Solteira. A adoção do tratamento SC2 determinou maior altura de plantas aos 45 dias após o transplante, maior número de frutos por área e maior produtividade, além da concentração do período de colheita em sete semanas. As coberturas plásticas do solo não influenciaram as variáveis que compõem a produtividade do tomateiro.

Effect of pruning Acacia mangium on growth, form and heart rot

Small volumes of timber are now being produced from Acacia mangium plantations in Indonesia. These trees require pruning and thinning to increase the strength and appearance of the wood. However, cut surfaces from pruning are potential infection courts for the entry of decay-causing fungi like heart rot. This study investigated the effects of pruning on stem form and the incidence of heart rot in an 18-month-old plantation of Acacia mangium in South Sumatra. The objectives were to assess whether pruning is associated with an increase in the incidence of heart rot and whether form pruning compared to lift pruning reduced the incidence of heart rot and improved stem form. Form pruning removed 25% of leaf area by removing large branches and those subtending a narrow angle with the stem up to 3 m height, and lift pruning removed 25% of crown length from below. Trees in these treatments were singled before pruning. The third treatment, a control, was not singled and was used to assess base levels of heart rot. No significant difference in diameter increment between the two pruning treatments was found. There was strong evidence that form pruning was associated with better form 18 months after treatment. Trees in this treatment had a reduced number of branches >30 mm diameter and improved stem straightness (reduced kink). Lift pruning reduced average branch size but did not improve stem straightness. No heart rot was detected in any treatment. The results showed that form pruning is likely to have positive benefits on stem straightness and is likely to be effective to any selected pruning height. However a subsequent lift pruning is still considered a requirement. While wounds created from pruning and singling are assumed to have a large impact on the incidence of heart rot, this may not be an issue unless there is a sufficient source of fungi present in the environment to invade the wounds.

PRUNING HEIGHT AND ITS EFFECT ON QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE SEED PRODUCTION IN OLD SAXUAL (Haloxylon aphyllum) FORESTS OF YAZD, IRAN

The high quality and quantity seed production in old saxual shrubs are essential for regeneration and sustainable development of saxual forests in desert areas. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of different pruning height on saxual seed production. The study was carried out in an obviously wilted saxual forest located in Ashkezar desert in Yazd in 1994. The experiment was carried out in a split-plot design with 3 replications, with saxual density (250 and 125 shrubs/ha) as the main plots, and pruning height (10, 35, 70 cm, and a no-cut check) as the sub-plots. Pruning was done on autumn 1994. The forest was protected completely and the quality and quantity of seed production of marked shrubs were investigated on autumn 1999 and 2000. The 2-year results showed that saxual density did not have any significant effect on quality and quantity of saxual seed production (P<0.05). Pruning height had significant effect on percent seed longevity and net saxual seed production (P<0.05). Although no significant difference was observed in viable net seed production under different pruning height, the amount of viable net seed production at 35cm pruning height was 9.7 kg/ha, which seems adequate for saxual regeneration.

Composición química de la morera (Morus alba), para uso en la alimentación animal: densidades y frecuencias de poda.

This experiment was carried out at the Alfredo Volio Mata Dairy Cattle Experimental Station in Costa Rica, at an altitude of 1542 masl, where there is an average annual rainfall of 2050 mm, temperature of 19.5 C and relative humidity of 84%. A mulberry bush plantation was divided into three plots: with a distance of 60, 90 and 120 cm between rows and plants. Each plot was uniformly pruned at two heights: 30 and 60 cm from the ground. During a 336-day period, these subplots were pruned consecutively every 56th, 84th and 112th day. The planting distance and the pruning height produced small variations in the chemical composition of the mulberry leaves and stems. The cutting frequency produced changes in the composition of the leaves and stems. Nevertheless, the differences in dry matter, crude protein, structural carbohydrates and total ashes in the leaves were not higher then 3% in experimental frequencies. In the stems the greatest changes were 9% and they were produced in the content of the dry matter, cellular wall and in some of the structural chemical components, such as cellulose. The cutting number within each frequency significantly influenced the chemical composition of the leaves and the stems.

Alley Cropping Gliricidia sepium with Maize: 1. The Effect of Hedgerow Spacing, Pruning Height and Phosphorus Application Rate on Maize Yield

Alley Cropping Gliricidia sepium with Maize: 1. The Effect of Hedgerow Spacing, Pruning Height and Phosphorus Application Rate on Maize Yield

Efeito da freqüência e altura de poda na produtividade de raízes e parte aérea em mandioca

O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da altura e freqüência de poda, sobre a produtividade de parte aérea e de raízes em cinco cultivares de mandioca. Foram avaliadas duas alturas (0,50 m e 1,00 m) e três freqüências de poda (aos 6, 12 e 18 meses, aos 12 e 18 meses e aos 18 meses), envolvendo as cultivares Paxiubão, Pretinha, Paxiúba II, Metro III, e Pirarucu. A produção de matéria verde e a porcentagem de folhas foram inversamente proporcionais à idade das plantas. Com exceção da cultivar Paxiubão, os rendimentos de raízes foram reduzidos com o aumento da freqüência de podas. O rendimento de raízes foi reduzido tanto pela altura como pela freqüência de poda, enquanto o rendimento de matéria verde foi influenciado pela freqüência de poda. A altura e a freqüência de poda reduziram o teor de matéria seca de raízes e elevaram o índice de podridão de raízes. A freqüência de poda reduziu o teor de ácido cianídrico nas raízes. Para o aproveitamento simultâneo da parte aérea e raízes recomenda-se a cultivar Paxiubão com poda aos 6 e 12 meses.

A Ratoon Cropping System for Fall Bell Pepper Production

Studies were conducted to examine the effects of pruning treatments applied to spring-transplanted bell peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) on marketable fruit yield in late summer and fall. Control plants were set in the field in early May 1997 (Oklahoma) and Apr. 1998 (Oklahoma and Texas) and harvested weekly into October (Oklahoma) or periodically into December (Texas). In 1997, all four treatments (involving height and method of pruning) reduced total marketable fruit weight, but differences among treatments were nonsignificant. In Oklahoma in 1998, plants were mowed on 27 July at an average height of ≈24 cm. Mowed plants produced less total marketable fruit weight but more U.S. Fancy fruit than did control plants, while weight of U.S. No. 1 fruit was not affected. In Texas in 1998, plants mowed on 4 Sept. at a height of ≈20 cm produced more than twice the weight of U.S. No. 1 fruit and fewer cull fruit than did control plants. Nonpruned transplants set in the field in Summer 1998 (both Oklahoma and Texas) produced low marketable yields. Maintaining spring-transplanted bell peppers is a viable technique for fall pepper production, and the highest total marketable yields may be obtained if these plants are not mowed. However, mowing offers an opportunity for increased fall production of premium fruit, and mowed plants would be easier to manage than nonpruned plants.

Managing regrowth of an indigenous savanna tree species ( Terminalia sericea) for fuelwood: the influence of stump dimensions and post-harvest coppice pruning

Most African savannas are subjected to harvesting of wood, especially for fuelwood, charcoal and construction timber. A key attribute of the resilience and productivity of savannas is the ability of damaged trees to regrow from the remaining stump. Survival of the cut stem and growth rate of the resultant coppice shoots is influenced by several factors, including size of the tree, cutting height and the root/shoot ratio after felling. Some of these can be manipulated to maximise subsequent regrowth, but this is little understood for most African savanna species. This study investigated the influence of original tree size, height of cut and post-harvest pruning on regrowth of Terminalia sericea. Regrowth was monitored as the number of coppice shoots, the mean coppice shoot length and the cumulative coppice shoot length per cut stump over four growing seasons. There was a positive relationship between cutting height and number of coppice shoots, but height of cut did not significantly affect mean or cumulative coppice shoot length. Larger stems produced more coppice and had greater mean and cumulative coppice shoot lengths than smaller stems. Post-harvest pruning increased the mean shoot length, but not the cumulative shoot length. After four growing seasons mean shoot length for the single shoot pruning treatment (one shoot left) was 54% greater than for the no prune treatment, whilst the double shoot pruning (two shoots left) was 40% greater. Extrapolated harvest intervals for fuelwood poles were 3–4 years for large stems, 4–5 years for medium-sized stems, and 4–9 years for small stems.

278 A Ratoon Cropping System for Fall Bell Pepper Production

Studies were conducted to examine the effects of pruning treatments applied to spring-transplanted bell peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) on marketable fruit yield in late summer and fall. Control plants were set in the field in early May 1997 (Oklahoma) and Apr. 1998 (Oklahoma and Texas) and were harvested weekly into October (Oklahoma) or periodically into December (Texas). In 1997, there were no differences in total marketable fruit weight among four treatments involving height and method of pruning, but all reduced total marketable fruit weight relative to the control. In Oklahoma in 1998, the control was compared to plants mowed on 27 July at an average height of ≈24 cm. Mowed plants produced less total marketable fruit weight but more U.S. Fancy fruit than control plants. Also, control and mowed plants did not differ in weight of U.S. no. 1 fruit. In Texas in 1998, the control was compared to plants mowed on 4 Sept. at a height of ≈20 cm. Mowed plants produced more than double the weight of U.S. no. 1 fruit and fewer cull fruit than control plants. Nonpruned transplants set in the field in Summer 1998 (Oklahoma and Texas) gave low marketable yields. Maintaining spring-transplanted bell peppers is a viable technique for fall pepper production, and the highest total marketable yields may occur if these plants are not mowed. However, mowing offers an opportunity for increased fall production of premium fruit, and mowed plants would be easier to manage than unpruned plants.

Fodder production responses to pruning height and fodder quality of some trees and shrubs in a forest-savanna transition zone in southwestern Nigeria

Seasonal fodder production responses of five shrubs (Centrosema arenarium, Desmodium strigillosum, Desmodium velutinum, Phyllodium pulchellum, and Tadehagi triquetrum)and five trees (Albizia gummifera, Berlinia grandiflora, Albizia niopoides, Bauhinia monandra, and Inga edulis) to pruning heights ranging from 15 to 75 cm were evaluated during the main-wet, minor-wet, and dry seasons of 1993 and 1994 in the forest-savanna transition zone of West Africa. Fodder from the main-wet season was analysed for nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), and dry matter degradation characteristics after 6, 12, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h of incubation in rumen-fistulated N'Dama steers. In the minor-wet season, fodder production of all species increased in response to increasing pruning height with the exception of P. pulchellum and A. gummifera. Highest fodder production was attained at a pruning height of 45 cm for the Desmodium species, 50 cm for P. pulchellum, and 75 cm for the rest of the species. Concentrations of N and P varied significantly among the species; for N the ranges were 28.7–38.8 g kg−1 (shrubs) and 25.3–44.5 g kg−1 (trees), while for P the ranges were 3.26–7.04 g mg−1 (shrubs) and 3.58–6.76 g mg−1 (trees). Dry matter degradation characteristics differed significantly among shrubs and trees; ranges for shrubs were: soluble fraction (a), 128–185; degradable fraction (b), 664–703; potential degradability (PD), 793–857, as g kg−1; rate of degradation (c), 0.0241–0.0308 as % h−1 while for trees ranges were: (a), 139–160; (b), 651–826; (PD), 824–970, as g kg−1; (c), 0.0143–0.0227 as % h−1. Based on fodder production and quality, C. arenarium, D. strigillosum, D. velutinum, B. monandra, I. edulis, and A. niopoides were the most promising species for the development of animal agroforestry technologies in the west African forest-savanna transition zone and similar environments in the tropics.

Influence of coffee pruning on the severity of frost damage

Frost damages in a field experiment of pruning types and systems for the cultivars of Coffea arabica Catuaí and Mundo Novo, were evaluated at Londrina (23º22’S, 52º10´W), State of Parana, southern Brazil, during the winter of 1990 and 1994. Pruning types evaluated were ‘esqueletamento’ (cutting off all plagiotropic branches at 20-30 cm from the orthotropic branch), ‘decote’ (cutting off the orthotropic branch at 1.5 m and 2.0 m above ground) and ‘recepa’ (cutting off the orthotropic branch at 0.8 m above ground), performed on all rows and on alternate rows, and on different sections of the plant. Results indicated that frost damage could increase according to the type and height of pruning. The pruning type ‘esqueletamento’ and prunings at higher levels were more suitable for regions with frost risk. Under severe frost condition, pruning type did not affect the damage in anyone of the treatments evaluated.

A Carbon Balance Model of Growth and Self-Pruning in Trees Based on Structural Relationships

Abstract A tree growth model is formulated based on structural relationships in a carbon balance framework. Three relationships are applied: (1) an allometric relationship between crown surface area and foliage area, (2) the principle of functional balance, and (3) the pipe-model theory. These assumptions lead to a model where the sizes of the functional parts of the tree are derivable from foliage weight, except for the pruning height of the crown. This is determined by defining a "self-pruning coefficient," which controls the allocation of growth between height growth and foliage growth. The tree model is applied to an average-tree based stand growth model where both the self-pruning coefficient and tree mortality are made functions of crown coverage. The model is quantified for Scots pine growing in southern Fenno-Scandia. The overall behavior of the model is realistic. The model responds to stocking density through the rate of self-pruning, lower stocking densities leading to larger crown ratios. It also responds to changes in parameters describing site quality in a realistic way, although the differences in stand density are not as large as expected. The predicted development of the biomass compartments in individual trees agrees well with data on dominant Scots pine trees in Finland. For. Sci. 43(1):7-24.