Impact of Different Pruning Practices on Height Growth of Paulownia Clon in Vitro 112(R)

Abstract

We focused on the ability of one-year-old and two-year-old plants of Paulownia Clon in vitro 112(R) to sprout and grow branches, and on their pruning for their best possible growth on a plantation in Střelice u Brna. Furthermore, we carried out pruning on selected parts that comprised: spring pruning; reduction in the angle between the stem axis and one new growing sprout; and year-long pruning. The sprouting capacity of Paulownia was high-up to 56% (one-year-old plants) and 50% (two-year-old plants). Branches grew on 34% of all one-year-old plants and on 57% of all two-year-old plants. The best possible spring pruning method seems to be the keeping of one stem sprout or one stump sprout for one-year-old plants and one stem sprout for two-year-old plants. The newly growing stem sprout should be formed by bandaging it to the stem, and, as a result of this, the angle between the stem and the sprout can be reduced to 20o in contrast to 50o when the sprout is not bandaged. Our results suggest that it is best to take off the lower ⅓ of the branches and leaves, which leads to faster height growth of the plant.