Rejuvenation of Neglected, Mature

Abstract

An attempt was made in 1997 to rejuvenate neglected, mature 'Wichita' pecan trees in a commercial Pinal County grove by applying two types of heading back pruning cuts. The treatments were applied during the dormant season prior to the growing season. The trees were pruned using proven horticultural techniques which included dehorning (cutting main scaffolds to within 2 feet of the trunk) and cutting main scaffolds by 50%. After four years of data, the trees receiving no pruning treatments are producing as well or better than trees to which the pruning treatments were applied. The data suggests that a return to normal irrigation and fertilization practices alone will return neglected, water-stressed trees to normal productivity as early as trees that have been headed-back.