Effects of Piliostigma reticulatum on the Vegetation Dynamic in Sudanian Zone of Burkina Faso

Yelemou Barthelemy,Abdoulaye Tyano,Bassiaka Ouattara,Babou Andre Bationo,Jeanne Millogo Rasolodimby,Jonas Koala

doi:10.5539/jps.v6n2p77

Abstract

This study aims at identifying the effect of P. reticulatum on the vegetation regeneration dynamic in Sudanian fallows of Burkina Faso. Two fallows of about twenty years old have been considered. The point quadrat method was used for herbaceous inventory. Aboveground biomass has been estimated. Moreover, effect of P. reticulatum on the regeneration of others woody species has been studied under, at the limit and out of the shrub canopy. In north Sudanian zone, inventory recorded 39 herbaceous species of which 23 species under the canopy and 16 in open grassland, distributed in 12 families and 22 genera. In south Sudanian zone, species diversity is 41 species from which 23 under the canopy and 18 out of, spread in 16 families and 26 genera. Species higher than 80 cm have been observed only under P. reticulatum canopy in south and north Sudanian zone. In addition, no species of striga met in open sunlight has been observed under the shrub canopy. East and West directions recorded the important proportions of species with individuals belonging to the stratum superior to 100 cm (3.13 and 4.81 % in north direction, 1.47 and 1.73% in south directions).

Highlights

Piliostigma reticulatum is protected from cuts for decades in agricultural landscape of the central plateau of Burkina Faso (Yélémou, Bationo, Yaméogo, & Millogo-Rasolodimby, 2007)
Under P. reticulatum crowns, 23 herbaceous species belonging to 19 families have been identified whereas 16 species belonging to 9 families have been identified out of the crown, at open grassland
In the Sudanian conditions, P. reticulatum enhances herbaceous diversity and production, and woody regeneration under its crown compared to the open grassland

Summary

Introduction

Piliostigma reticulatum is protected from cuts for decades in agricultural landscape of the central plateau of Burkina Faso (Yélémou, Bationo, Yaméogo, & Millogo-Rasolodimby, 2007). P. reticulatum is subjected to an increasing anthropization due to its high presence in the agricultural landscape in Sahelo-Sudanian zone of Burkina Faso. During these last years with regression of traditional agroforestry species due to climatic risks, excessive exploitation, and their low ability to regenerate, P. reticulatum is more and more adopted by the populations of the central plateau as agroforestry species (Yélémou et al, 2007). Several authors showed that in semi-arid areas, tree promote climatic factors but increase diversity http://jps.ccsenet.org

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