Flowering and fruiting of Parkia biglobosa (Jacq.) Benth according to agro climatic zones and land use system in Souhtern Mali

Abstract

Flowering and fruiting of Parkia biglobosa were monitored along the north–south climatic gradient in Mali. Three sites (Somasso, Zanzoni and Diou) were concerned. Adult trees were monitored in field and fallow stands. Significant variations of flowering and fruiting were observed according to site and stand. The onset of phenological events started earlier in the south and progressed toward the north. Four to five months of flowering and three to four months of fruiting were observed in all sites. The trend of flowering and fruiting was similar for fields and fallows. The difference between sites like that between stands was not significant for the length of flowering and of fruiting. The number of flowering trees varied according to year and stand in all sites. At Somasso 100% of trees in the fallow stand flowered all years, while in the field stand, it fluctuated from 93% in 2019 and 2020 to 100% in 2021. At Zanzoni, 100% of trees in field stand flowered all years, while in the fallow stands it fluctuated from 93% in 2019 and 2021 to 73% in 2020. At Diou, 60% of trees in the fallow stand flowered all years, while in the fields it fluctuated from 73% in 2019 and 2020 to 77% in 2021. The trend of fruiting was similar to that of flowering. The results indicate that phenological events of P. biglobosa are controlled by an intrinsic force and they can be influenced by other factors, such as management practices.