The role of plant adjustment methods and key points of common techniques

Plant adjustment methods are cultivation management measures used in agricultural production to intervene artificially in the growth form of crops so that nutrients are distributed more rationally. They are mainly applied to solanaceous fruits, cucurbits, legumes and other crops whose growth needs to be controlled, and are also often used in the cultivation of some medicinal herbs and fruit trees. By adjusting plant structure, ventilation and light penetration in the field can be improved, nutrient waste reduced, and a foundation laid for high quality and high yield.

Common plant adjustment measures include pruning and removal of side shoots, pinching and topping, flower and fruit thinning, staking and vine training, and vine pressing. Pruning and removal of side shoots means removing excess lateral branches and axillary buds so that nutrients are supplied in a concentrated way to the main stem and fruiting branches; pinching and topping means nipping off the growing point to break apical dominance and promote branching and fruit set. Flower and fruit thinning can control the number of fruits so that those left develop more fully; staking and vine pressing are mostly used for climbing or trailing crops, helping the stems and vines distribute reasonably in the field.

Reasonable plant adjustment also helps reduce pests and diseases. After ventilation and light penetration improve, field humidity decreases, the chance for pathogens to breed is reduced accordingly, and the pressure of chemical control is also somewhat lessened. For crops that flower and fruit continuously, such as tomato, cucumber and honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), timely plant adjustment can also extend the harvest period and raise overall planting returns.

It should be noted that plant adjustment should be handled flexibly according to crop type, growth vigor and climatic conditions, and cannot be applied in a one-size-fits-all way. Operations should preferably be carried out on sunny days so that wounds heal as quickly as possible and the chance of pathogen invasion is reduced; the tools used should be kept clean, and removed branches and leaves should be taken out of the field promptly for disposal. Excessive adjustment will instead weaken the photosynthetic area and affect yield, so achieving the right degree is key.