Effects of pruning on radial growth and biomass increment of trees growing in homegardens of Kerala, India

To evaluate the effects of pruning on stem radial growth increment and leaf and twig biomass production, an experiment with four pruning intensities (0, 50, 75 and 90%) on ten locally important tree species (Ailanthus triphysa, Albizia odoratissima, Artocarpus hirsutus, Bombax malabarica, Bridelia crenulata, Erythrina indica, Grewia tiliifolia, Macaranga peltata, Terminalia paniculata and Xylia xylocarpa), was carried out. The results did not support the contention that a certain level of pruning promotes stem growth in trees. Instead, all species have a level of pruning that reduces annual increment in stem diameter. In Ailanthus triphysa and Artocarpus hirsutus trees subjected to different pruning intensities showed a decline in the annual increment in stem diameter while in other species diameter increment reduced when the pruning intensity was 75% and 90%. Response to pruning in terms of biomass production also varied from species to species. In Erythrina indica, Macaranga peltata and Terminalia paniculata annual foliage and branch production in pruned trees was significantly more than that of the un-pruned trees. However, in Ailanthus triphysa, Albizia odoratissima, Artocarpus hirsutus, Bridelia crenulata, Grewia tiliifolia and Xylia xylocarpa pruned trees produced comparatively more amount of foliage and branches produced annually than that by the un-pruned trees when the pruning was carried out once in 2 years. Based on these observations it is recommended that trees of Erythrina indica, Macaranga peltata and Terminalia paniculata may be pruned at 50% level annually while the trees of Ailanthus triphysa, Albizia odoratissima, Artocarpus hirsutus, Bridelia crenulata, Grewia tiliifolia and Xylia xylocarpa may be pruned at the same pruning intensity once in 2 years.