Scrog and defolation?

Assuming you will allow enough growth above the scrog, yes... how deep do you see good nugs? that's the distance i'd want to grow above the scrog. clearing below may reduce overall yield but any refocusing of resources will also benefit that which grows above the net, which is what you care most about. it may not be 1:1 "re-focused" but some improvements will be realized above if it sin't wasting resources growing limbs and leaves below. Like i said, this doesn't necessarily increase yield, but it may... and it definitely increasees proportion of better quality nugs that will grow above the net. not trying to scare you, but also don't want to create some bullshit fantasy about it. the real increase in yield comes from the efficient filling of space that the net allows and helps organize. lollipopping or shwazzing? schwa'ing? can likely improve quality above but not always increases yield. You may want some amount of larf to cook or make hash etc... personal preference is important too.