Effects of Girdling Intensity, Pruning Season and Thinning on Tree Growth, Crown Vigor and Wound Recovery in Japanese Larch

To ensure sustainable forestry, it is important to establish efficient management procedures for seed orchards. We evaluated the effects of thinning, pruning season and girdling intensity on tree growth vigor in an old Larix kaempferi orchard. Even after four years, size (crown width height) increased, resulting light un-thinned class decreasing. Thinning counteracted decrease associated with growth, but had no effect promoting growth. Tree crown status was scored based health. No significant difference observed between unpruned winter-pruned trees, summer-pruning showed significantly lower vigor. Five years girdling, trees low moderate levels maintained high vigor, similar intact while subjected severe lower. This first study quantitatively model trends remaining depth over time, show that half decay period ca. 2–3 years. Our findings suggested combine moderate-level winter thinning maintain rPPFD at 50% are well-suited balancing reproduction