Fruit production in Balanites aegyptiaca is highly variable across tropical arid zones of West Africa: implications for sustainability

Abstract

ABSTRACTClimate change and overpopulation threaten many fruit tree species in Africa. This study evaluated the yield of Balanites aegyptiaca, a popular species throughout the continent. Productivity was monitored in natural populations over 5 years across two climatic zones in Burkina Faso. The yield of 72 trees in each climatic zone was estimated using the yield of different sized branches. Yield varied significantly over the 5 years within each climatic zone, between populations and within each tree.Mean (± SE) yield per tree (dry weight) was 2.00 ± 2.23 kg per year in the Sahelian zone and 4.65 ± 3.7 kg per year in the Sudano-Sahelian zone. There was a strong relationship between yield and the diameter of the tree at breast height (Adj.R2 > 63%, P < 0.05). Application of these models to natural populations showed that the trees could yield 51.93 kg/ha and 41.05 kg/ha in the Sahelian and Sudano-Sahelian zones, respectively. There was a close relationship between observed and predicted yields (y = x). These models are reliable and can be recommended for the prediction of B. agyptiaca yield in similar tropical areas.