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Chinese Agricultural Science Bulletin ›› 2025, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (22): 35-40.doi: 10.11924/j.issn.1000-6850.casb2025-0183

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Review on Effect of Pruning on Tree Growth and Wood Quality

CAO Pei(), XU Cheng, LI Mengqiu, TANG Luozhong()   

  1. Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University/College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037
  • Received:2025-03-11 Revised:2025-06-18 Online:2025-08-05 Published:2025-08-11

Abstract:

Pruning is an essential technical measure in the process of forest cultivation. Reasonable pruning is conducive to promoting the growth of forest trees, improving the trunk shape, increasing trunk completeness and timber outturn percentage, reducing the number of dead and live knots, and improving the overall quality of wood. This paper comprehensively analyzed the influence and mechanism of pruning on the growth of tree diameter at breast height and tree height, the physical properties of wood, and the tree trunk quality, and revealed that the growth promotion effect was achieved by regulating the distribution of photosynthetic products and improving the efficiency of nutrient transport. At the same time, the complex regulation rules of pruning intensity and seasonal difference on wood density, mechanical properties and knot scar formation were clarified. On this basis, it further summarized the deficiencies and problems in the past research and put forward the main research directions for the future as follow. (1) To construct the theoretical model of precise pruning based on tree species characteristics and growth stages; (2) to research and develop intelligent pruning equipment and digital operation systems; (3) to establish a standardized technical system covering material improvement and economic benefit evaluation. The research results provide theoretical support and technical path for directional cultivation of high-quality industrial materials.

Key words: pruning, tree growth, crown morphology, wood properties, wood density, mechanical properties of wood, knots