Skottlängd

Skottlängd is a term used in botany and horticulture to describe the length of a plant shoot, measured from the point where the shoot originates to the tip of the current growth. It is commonly used as a metric of vegetative growth and vigor in both herbaceous and woody plants.

Measurement is typically performed on selected shoots at a defined date or after a standardized growth period. For woody plants, the measurement runs along the main axis of the current year's shoot, from the base at the node to the apex; for herbaceous plants, it is measured from the base of the shoot to the tip. A sample of shoots (e.g., 10 per plant or per treatment) is often measured to obtain an average. Standardization in timing, part of the plant, and measurement method is important to compare results.

Factors affecting skottlängd include species and cultivar genetics, age, light level, temperature, water availability, nutrient supply, and management practices such as pruning, training, or thinning. In many crops, longer shoot length indicates more vigorous growth, while excessive length can reflect etiolation or insufficient branching and can influence harvest, mechanical properties, or flowering.

In practice, skottlängd informs pruning decisions, breeding selections, and growth models. It is frequently used in orchard management, ornamental horticulture, and experimental plant studies to assess growth responses to treatments and environmental conditions.