European Hazelnut: Plant Training, Planting Layouts and Pruning Innovations
Author(s)
Date Issued
2026
Type
article
Volume
16
Issue
5
Start Page
511
Journal
Abstract
European hazelnut is a suckering woody species traditionally cultivated as a multistemmed
shrub, even though its structure is usually modified to enhance orchard management
efficiency. The present review analyzed the main changes in hazelnut cultivation over
the last few decades, with a special focus on the transition from a multi-stemmed shrub
to single-trunk system, influencing plant light interception, promoting some mechanized
operations and more in general the whole orchard management. Pruning practice is an
essential agronomic operation, covering a relevant role in ensuring the healthy status of
the plant and maintaining satisfactory levels of production. Traditional approaches and
the current direction toward a mechanical pruning operation as a cheap alternative were
evaluated. Furthermore, recent trends in orchard layout, characterized by the reduction
in planting distances to enhance orchard performance, were investigated. Furthermore,
emerging approaches for precision agriculture were reported, such as those related to
automated plant canopy management. Overall, this review aims to highlight the strengths
and limitations of different plant training and shaping adopted for the species, as well as to
identify future research directions in the field of hazelnut canopy management aimed at
ensuring consistent crop productivity over the years.
Subjects