Effect of Mechanized Pruning on Coffee Regrowth and Fruit Maturity Timing

By pruning, a coffee tree can have a productive life of many more years than if it is not pruned. Pruning strategy (schedule and method) affects the vegetative and reproductive regrowth and timing of crop maturity. The cultivar and location of cultivation are also factors that must be considered. Twelve pruning strategies were used on three cultivars at two locations. The vertical and horizontal regrowth was measured annually. The timing of crop maturity was measured by the ratio of immature, mature, and overripe coffee cherries at harvest. The results reported cover a four-year period.