Selective limb pruning, tree removal, and paclobutrazol growth retardant for crowding pecan trees

Selective limb pruning, tree thinning, and the combination of selective limb pruning and paclobutrazol application as a basal drench were used to reduce overcrowding of pecan [Carya illinoensis (Wangenh.) C. Koch] trees. Thinning increased yield per tree for the cultivar 'Desirable' and did not significantly reduce yield per hectare during the 7 year period of the study. None of the treatments significantly affected yield per tree or nut quality for the cvs. 'Western Schley' and 'Wichita'. Selective limb pruning with or without the growth retardant did not affect either yield or nut quality. The paclobutrazol basal drench reduced terminal shoot growth.