Seed Germination of Faidherbia albida (Delile) A. Chev as Influenced by Different Pretreatments

Faidherbia albida is an agroforesrty tree that has the potential of promoting agroforestry establishment in Nigeria. The seeds are glossy due to the presence of wax in the seed coat which prevents easy penetration of water. Thus, this study assessed the effect of different pretreatments (biological, mechanical and chemical) on the germination of F. albida seeds. The treatments include; seeds scarified at the helium, soaked in cold water for 24 hours, soaked in hot water for 3 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, & 15 minutes and soaked in Conc. H2SO4 for 3 minutes, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, and 15 minutes. The result showed that all treatment had uniform germination percentage of 100% but seeds soaked in H2SO4 for 15 min and 10 min had the highest germination value of (65.25) and (65.00) respectively, followed by 15mins soaking in hot water (47.14) while the least germination value was recorded in seeds scarified mechanically (33.31). Analysis of variance revealed that there was no significant difference in the treatments. However, seeds treated with H2SO4 at 15 mins and 10 mins had the best performance in terms of germination value compared with other treatments. Therefore, for optimum and uniform germination, the seed of F. albida seeds should be soak in concentrated H2SO4 for 15 min.

Effect of Climatic Gradient on Species Diversity and Structure of Faidherbia Albida Parkland in Burkina Faso (West Africa)

Background: Faidherbia albida parkland provide many ecosystem goods and services to people, ranging from provisioning to regulating services. Despite this importance, these parks are degraded due to overexploitation, which is accentuated by the adverse effects of climate change. In this context of climate change, little information exists on the state of these F. albida parkland, particularly their diversity and structure along the North-South climatic gradient. This study aims to determine the effect of climatic gradient of F. albida parklands in order to provide updated data for sustainable management. Floristic diversity and population structure were assessed through forest inventories in the three climatic zones of Burkina Faso. Thus, 99 circular plots of 1 ha were sampled in three zones, including 33 per climatic zone. The data processing concerned the calculation of diversity indices (Shannon, Piélou equitability, and species richness), importance value indices, and the calculation of the means of the dendrometric parameters. The analyses were based on the comparison of medians using the Kruskal-wallis test, and the effect of the climatic gradient on the different variables was tested using generalized linear models. All of these analyses were carried out using the R.4.0.5 software. Results: The dendrometric parameters and floristic diversity vary significantly (Pv˂0.05) according of climatic zone. Furthermore, based on ecological importance value indices and diameter class structure, the majority of dominant species (11) show a regressive dynamic in all three climatic zones characterized by abundance of old individuals at expense of young ones. This reflects an ageing and continuous destruction of these parklands. However, species such as V. tortilis (Sahelian zone) and A. indica (Sudano-Sahelian and Sudanian zones) show good dynamics. As for F. albida, its structure is regressive in all climatic zones.Conclusion: Although the climatic gradient has a significant effect on the diversity and species structure of F. albida parkland, their current dynamics are thought to be due to unsustainable management of local populations.

Effects of scattered Faidherbia albida and Cordia africana Tree on Soil Properties under their Canopies in Fedis District, Easte Hararghe Zone, Oromia

The study was conducted to investigate the effect of scattered trees under their canopies on soil fertility status at Fedis district, East Hararghe Zone, oromia, Ethiopia. Accordingly, six isolated and nearly identical Faidherbia albida and Cordia africana trees were selected and the canopy coverage of each tree was divided into four radial transects. Soil samples from three horizontal distances levels: 2.5m, 5m and 25m with two soil depths levels (0–20cm and 20-40cm) were taken for analysis of soil physical and chemical properties and tree species with two levels with factorial arrangement in RCBD replicated six times were employed. The result revealed soil texture was not influenced significantly (P>0.05) by tree species. Soil bulk density was significantly (p<0.05) influenced by both tree species. Soil moisture was significantly (p<0.05) higher under canopy of trees than open field and in surface than in subsurface soils. Soil chemical properties;- electric conductivity, organic carbon, organic matter, soil carbon stock, total nitrogen, available phosphorus and exchangeable cation (Mg, Ca, Na and K) for surface and subsurface soil layers of under F.albida and C. africana trees were significantly (p<0.05) higher in canopy than open field and in surface than subsurface. Soil pH was not significantly (p>0.05) influenced by both tree species. It can be concluded that these tree species have the potential to improve soil fertility beneath its canopy. This may be important for the agricultural landscape health and demonstrated the scattered trees to retain on crop fields to improve soil fertility status under its canopy and on farm biodiversity conservation in agricultural landscapes conditions.

Seedling performance of different provenances of selected indigenous tree species in Debub Ari District, Southern Ethiopia

Better understanding of variations in seed traits and seedling vigor in various populations of a given species is vital for appropriate nursery and tree planting technology. The main objective of this study was to identify better provenance for indigenous trees by testing seed germination and seedling traits. Seeds of six indigenous trees (Vachellia abyssinica, Vachellia seyal, Faidherbia albida, Balanites aegyptiaca and Terminalia laxiflora Engl.) were collected from different geographic areas. One hundred (100) polyethylene pots (20 cm height and 12 cm diameter) were filled with 2:1:1 ratio of local, forest soil and sand composition for seedlings. A Complete Randomized Design (CRD), 5 x 4 polyethylene pots in four replications of 20 polyethylene pots for each provenance was designed in the nursery and the provenances for selected species. Different early growth performance parameters were measured for each tested provenance. All collected data were analyzed by using ANOVA while the least significance difference was computed for mean separation. The seedling performance of Vachellia abyssinica and Vachellia seyal were significantly varied among the provenances. Vachellia abyssinica from Butajira provenance had the highest mean values across all the studied parameters. Except height, Kako provenance had the highest mean values across all the early performance parameters of Vachellia seyal. Seedling performances of Faidherbia albida in the nursery was significantly varied among the provenances except for root collar diameter. Provenance from Wondo Genet had the highest mean values of germination percent and comparable leaf numbers with provenance from Hawassa. It can be concluded that the observed patterns of variation will have the implication for genetic resources conservations and tree improvement. Accordingly, Butajira and Kako provenances could be taken as a good source of seed collection for Vachellia abyssinica and Vachellia seyal, respectively. Wondo Genet and Hawassa provenances could also ensure the provision of planting materials of Faidherbia albida for farmers. Further progeny tests in the field should be undertaken for a longer period to obtain definitive recommendations for early selection

Influence of trees and topography on soil water content in semi-arid region, the case of an agro-silvo-pastoral ecosystem dominated by Faidherbia albida (Senegal)

&lt;p&gt;Vegetation strongly affects the water cycle, and the interactions between vegetation and soil moisture are fundamental for ecological processes in semiarid regions. Therefore, characterizing the variation in soil moisture is important to understand the ecological sustainability of cropping systems towards food security. The present study aims at exploring factors and mechanisms influencing soil moisture variability in the Faidherbia albida (FA) parkland at Sob basin located in the center of Senegal [1]. Volumetric soil moisture content at multiple depths was monitored at 15 locations distributed along a transect (upper slope, mid-slope and lower slope) and different FA tree position (under, at the limit and outside canopy) from August to October 2020. A portable TRIME Time Domain Reflectometry (TDR) Tube Probe (IMKO, Germany) was used to determine soil volumetric moisture content while being placed at specific depth intervals inside a PVC access tube set up at each location. Soil moisture was monitored at 10 cm interval from 20 to 420 cm during the rainy season from July to October 2020. Results of soil moisture profiles along the transects exhibit two main zones based on the standard deviation (SD) and the inflection of the coefficient of variation (CV): shallow soil moisture (SSM) and deep soil moisture (DSM). For SSM observed at 20-60 cm of the soil layer, both mean soil moisture and SD increase with depth, the lowest mean value (8%) being observed at the top surface. This soil layer is influenced by rainfall infiltration and daily evaporation. For DSM observed at 70-420 cm, the moisture pattern can be further divided into 4 soil sublayers taking the mean soil moisture vertical distribution as reference: (i) a rainfall infiltration layer (70-160 cm) which appears mainly influenced by cumulative rainfall infiltration in addition to transpiration of grassland and crops (shallow root system); (ii) a rainfall-transpiration layer (170-250 cm) which is still an infiltration layer but more influenced by crops transpiration; (iii) a transpiration layer (260-350 cm) which can be recharged by rainfall infiltration during heavy rainfall and supply deep root system; and (iv) deep transpiration layer (360-400 cm) which has DSM that can be influenced by extremely deep root vegetation such as FA. The factors influencing the soil water content varied with the topography. The soil water content SWC (mean and median value of 27.2 and 29.6% respectively) in the lower slope was significantly higher than that at middle (mean and median value of 14.4 and 13.2 % respectively) and upper slope (mean and median value of 16.8 and 18.4 % respectively). At last, soil water content was positively correlated with the distance from the FA, regardless the slope. The higher water content for both SSM and DSM was observed outside the FA canopy. This result refutes the initial hypothesis of higher SWC under trees and support a more detailed analysis of the infiltration capacity in relationship with the FA position.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;div&gt; &lt;div&gt; &lt;p&gt;[1] Faidherbia-Flux : https://lped.info/wikiObsSN/?Faidherbia-Flux&lt;/p&gt; &lt;/div&gt; &lt;/div&gt;