Stumping is a particularly severe form of pruning: the
entire tree, canopy and all, is cut down to a level of about 50 cm
above the ground. One, perhaps two branches or stems may be left to
act as 'breathers' to stimulate re-growth.
In actual fact your question is beyond the scope of this website
in that it deals with a production issue. Nevertheless, without
going into detail, we can offer a brief overview that may assist
you.
Some of the reasons for 'stumping' are
- Improve yield: Aged trees often contain
much old wood within dense canopies. As a result growth of young
green branches is held back, yet these are the branches that should
carry the most crop.
- Improve quality: Old wood and dense canopies
retard cherry development and encourage disease: dense canopies are
more difficult to treat against pests and diseases. Young wood
normally produces better quality coffee.
- Reduce costs: Aged trees are, usually, taller
and require more pruning to keep them manageable. Picking tall and
dense canopies is more difficult, slower and thus more costly.
Stumping is cheaper than replanting.
Depending on circumstances, a stumped tree will usually return
to worthwhile production within about three years whereas a newly
planted tree will take longer. However, it is unusual for a grower
to 'stump' so many trees at one time that his production will be
severely diminished. Usually, growers who practice stumping would
do so on a rotational basis: that is they stump a given percentage
of their tree population every year so as to maintain a cycle that
avoids sharp fluctuations in production.
Of course, as with every system, stumping has its promoters and its
detractors. For example, some would argue that maintaining aged
root systems simply perpetuates certain problems. Others will
maintain that only total rejuvenation, i.e. rotational replanting -
say 10/15% of trees every year, brings the efficiency growers need
to strive for in trying market conditions… Or, that stumping
is more appropriate for traditional varieties and represents an
almost unnecessary procedure for newer, fast growing varieties.
They suggest that such varieties reach maturity faster but also
have a shorter economic lifespan, making replanting the more
beneficial option. It is not for us to comment however…
Posted 19 July 2006