Pruning of Zanthoxylum bungeanum tree is a very important step in the cultivation process, through reasonable pruning, Zanthoxylum bungeanum can not only improve the quality, but also increase the yield, and prolong the age of the tree, which is conducive to stabilizing the skeleton of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Zanthoxylum, the tree shape is distinct, the branches are strong, the photosynthesis is strong, the ventilation is good, and the occurrence of pests and diseases is reduced. For pepper farmers who do not prune or do not prune, the crown of the pepper tree cannot be opened, the branches are disorganized, and the photosynthetic capacity is weak...
Different stages of growth
Precautions for pruning pepper trees
Generally speaking, 1~3 years after transplanting and planting the pepper tree is the young age stage, 3~5 years is the vigorous growth period (first fruit stage), 6~7 years later, the pepper tree enters the full fruit stage, and after 15~20 years, the pepper tree begins to senescize, the bark becomes thicker, the backbone branches begin to droop, the large branches die, and enter the senescence period. The pruning methods of pepper trees at different growth stages are also very different, and the main operations and precautions are:
One
Pruning at an early age
1. Set dry in the first year. The height of the dry is determined according to the cultivar, site conditions, cultivation methods, planting density, etc., usually in mid-May ~ early June, and the cutting height is generally 40~50cm. A plurality of new shoots will germinate under the cut, when the new branches grow to 10~30cm, the primary selection of 3~5 ideal and uniform layout, robust branches as the main branches, keep the upper and lower main branches staggered, the opening angle of the main branches is 50 ° ~ 60 °, if the main branch grows upright, the method of pulling branches can be used to make it open.
2. Branches in the second year. With the continuous growth and expansion of the root system, the tree of Zanthoxylum bungeanum is relatively stable, and the tree shape of Zanthoxylum bungeanum is built while ensuring the nutrition of the tree body during this period. At this stage, the focus is on cultivating the first-level main branches, topping when the main branches grow to about 30~40cm, promoting their germination of secondary branches, and cultivating first-class side branches. The primary side branches on each main branch should be arranged in the same direction to avoid crossing each other and affecting the light.
3. The third year is finalized. Focus on cultivating the extension branches and side branches of the main branch, and cultivate the fruiting branches and fruiting branch groups. After cultivating the primary side branches, the main branch will continue to grow, and the part of the main branch that continues to grow is called the extension branch of the main branch. When the extended branches of the main branch grow to 40-50cm long, we pluck it again to promote its branching and cultivate secondary side branches, which should grow in opposite directions to the primary side branches. The principle of the subsequent tertiary and quaternary lateral branches is the same. Shorten each extension branch, select and retain the extension branch, and retain it appropriately when pruning, with a length of 45~50cm.
When topping, pay attention to plucking above the outer bud (outward bud) to facilitate the opening angle. The angle between the main branch and the side branches should be kept at a horizontal angle of about 45°, and if the angle is too small, it will grow with the main branch, and if the angle is too large, it will cross with the adjacent branches.
Two
Pruning at the first fruiting stage
At this stage, pruning is aimed at expanding the canopy, cultivating backbone branches, adjusting the relationship between growth and fruiting, and cultivating high yield, so as to lay the foundation for high yield and stable yield at the peak fruit stage. The length of the extended branch of the backbone branch is determined by the tree potential, generally 35~45cm, and some branches are appropriately thinned for the main branch with strong growth, and it is slowly put and truncated; For the weak main branches, more stubbing and less thinning are used to increase the number of branches. For the treatment of gentle branches and dorsal lower branches on the back, a combination of pruning methods should be adopted to promote early and more fruits.
According to its growth position, auxiliary branches should be strengthened and weak, properly thinned, and slightly retracted, and cultivated into fruiting branch groups to increase yield. For the stout branches, the 1-year-old heavy stub promotes the growth of strong branches. The annual fruiting branches are moderately truncated to promote the growth of branches, and the new branches are slowly released in the second year, and the upright branches are thinned out and the oblique branches are retained. The weaker shoots are slowly lowered to form small branches with more apical flower buds, and retracted at appropriate locations after fruiting in the second year.
Auxiliary branches: large branches on the main branch that are not selected as side branches, generally called auxiliary branches. Auxiliary branches can increase the area of leaf curtains, increase photosynthetic products, and complete the canopy. If the auxiliary branches do not affect the growth of the backbone branches, they should be lightly pruned and released slowly to increase the amount of fruit, but the auxiliary branches must make way for the backbone branches and be controlled within a certain range.
Three
Pruning during the peak fruiting period
At this stage, the relationship between vegetative growth and reproductive growth was adjusted by pruning, and the growth and continuous fruiting ability of various fruiting branches were maintained, so as to maintain strong, high and stable yield. The backbone branches should be retracted in time, and the strong branches that grow obliquely should be used to take the lead, in order to raise the angle of the branches, and the rejuvenating branches should maintain the balance between the main branches, as well as the subordinate relationship between the backbone branches, and adopt the pruning method of suppressing the strong and supporting the weak, so as to maintain a good tree structure. For auxiliary branches, the excess temporary auxiliary branches should be thinned, and those with space can be retracted to form a large fruiting branch group.
After the pruning of the fruiting branch group, after the pepper enters the full fruiting period, on the one hand, continue to cultivate a certain number of fruiting branches in the place where there is space, on the other hand, it is necessary to continuously adjust the fruiting branch group, and timely rejuvenate the fruiting branch group that extends too long and weakens the growth to prevent the fruiting part from moving outward and maintain its growth and fruiting ability.
There should be differences in the adjustment method for different types of result branches. The small branch group should remove the weaker branches in time, retain the strong branches, and appropriately shorten some of the fruiting branches to restore their growth and fruiting ability. Medium-sized branches should take the lead with strong branches to stabilize the growth potential, retract in time, and prevent the rear of the branch group from weakening. The large branch group should constantly adjust its growth direction, control the growth potential, guide the upright branch group to both sides, and continuously increase the branch angle of the opposite side branch group, and adopt a moderate retraction method to prevent it from extending too long, so as to avoid the weakening of the rear part of the branch group. For the branch groups with reduced fruiting ability, it is necessary to adopt rotation and retraction for renewal and rejuvenation.
Rotational renewal is to cut off the weakened small branch group from the base, leaving a live pile to stimulate the growth of new fruiting branches; Retraction renewal is mostly used for branch renewal, where the branches are first heavily truncated and new branches are stimulated to renew senescent branches.
Four
Senescence pruning
The focus of pruning during this period is to improve the light and restore the tree's strength. The early senescence trees mainly renew and prune the drooping branches and branch groups to delay senescence. The old trees are mainly thinned and pruned, pruning large branches, removing weak branches, leaving large buds, going to the old and raising the young, sparse and weak and leaving strong, and selecting strong branches and strong buds to take the lead in order to restore the tree's potential. The root system of the tree is senescent at the same time, so from late September to early October, dig a ring ditch with a depth of 30cm and a width of 40cm at the outer edge of the drip line of the crown to break the roots of the aging and agglomerate roots, renew the root system, and improve the ability to absorb nutrients.