Effects of Pruning on Diameter and Height Growth of Pinus nigra Arnold subsp. pallasina Plantations in Turkey

OpenAlex İngilizce

Pruning is a costly silvicultural operation and allows the production of high value timber. Effect of pruning on black pine and especially on Anatolian black pine (Pinus nigra Arnold subsp. pallasina) is not well known. The objective of the study was to evaluate pruning effects on diameter and height growth of Anatolian black pine. Pruned and the control treatments were carried out using 20 year old black pine plantation in orum providence of Turkey. Three pruning treatments were applied in 2004, 2009 and 2016 and diameter and height growths of trees were measured. Each pruning was done from the bottom to include one third of the crown. At the beginning of the study (first pruning) and after 5 years of the first pruning no difference was observed for DBH and height growth. However, diameter and height growth became important after 12 years of pruning between pruned and control stands. Results show that pruning could increase diameter growth and height of Anatolian black pine stands. To better understand, further detailed studies must be carried out investigating site effects, plant density and environmental variations.