Basic Knowledge in Agriculture #64

Pruning is the cutting off of certain portions of a plant, such as branches, twigs, leaves or roots, to improve growth and health of the plant, and the harvest of fruits or flowers.

Pruning is a vital operation in the culture of any plant, whether it be fruit tree, ornamental or plantation crop. Proper pruning enables plants to grow more orderly, stronger and more productively, and helps to keep a balance between vegetative growth and generative growth.

Several types of pruning are applied in agriculture. There are two main form of pruning: formative pruning, which is the pruning operation on juvenile plants to create an ideal canopy structure. The aim is that the plant will have a strong and balanced branch structure, so that further down the line it can support a lot of fruits or leaves.

Secondly, maintenance pruning is conducted to maintain the shape of the plant and to remove dead, diseased, or weakened branches and to promote better air circulation and more sunlight within the plant canopy. Third, production pruning to induce flowering and fruiting for the greatest yields.

Fourth, rejuvenation pruning: which is carried out on old or unproductive plants by pruning out some parts for the development of new healthier and more productive shoots. Fifth, sanitation pruning involves cutting out infested and diseased portions of the plant so as to keep the spores from invading other areas of the same or of one’s neighbors plants.

The advantages and results of pruning are essential to grow as well as to maintain a productive plant. A major advantage is that it allows plants to be healthy. The spread of the disease will be minimally amenable if the infected or dead material is removed.

Pruning can also improve air flow and sunlight, which are important for photosynthesis and help to prevent excess moisture that can lead to fungal diseases. Pruning may also encourage growth of new, stronger, more productive shoots.

Quantity and quality of harvest are also affected by pruning. Good pruning techniques in fruiting plants increase fruit size, flavour and ripening helps more uniform.

A well-pruned plant normally will yield better and more quality fruit. From a view point of appreciation, pruning helps to make plants more tidy and organized, more especially ornamental and garden plants.

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