Pinus armandii is an important economic and ecological tree species in China, and its
seeds (pine nuts) possess high economic value. However, fruit harvesting of P. armandii faces
considerable challenges in terms of operational safety, harvesting efficiency, and ecological
protection due to the tall tree stature, the concentrated distribution of cones at the upper
canopy, and the complex terrain of mountainous forestlands.
Based on a comprehensive review of published literature and multi-source information
surveys, this study systematically analyzes the fruit maturation characteristics, harvesting
approaches, and seed extraction methods of P. armandii, and conducts a comparative analysis
with harvesting practices of common economic fruit trees such as apple. By comparing the
advantages and limitations of different harvesting tools—including manual harvesting, impacttype cone harvesters, and vibration-based harvesting machines—as well as seed extraction
methods such as peeling, knocking, and mechanical seed separation, this study identifies
existing problems and potential optimization pathways in P. armandii fruit harvesting. The
results are expected to provide theoretical references for the improvement of harvesting
technologies and the development of specialized equipment for P. armandii.