Title: Selective limb removal pruning and reflective ground covers improve light and crop distributions in the lower zone of ‘Nonpareil’ almond trees but not total yield

•Without pruning, almond trees developed light inefficient canopies with low yield.•Pruning and reflective ground covers increased yield but only in lower canopy zones.•Treatments did not increase total yield and lower canopy fruit were late maturing.•New growing systems that optimise light interception are needed to increase yields.