Impact of land use practices on traits and production of shea butter tree (Vitellaria paradoxa C.F. Gaertn.) in Pendjari Biosphere Reserve in Benin

Dendrometric parameters such as tree DBH, height, crown diameter and size characteristics of leaves and fruit production collected from Vitellaria paradoxa subsp. growing in three land use types in Pendjari Biosphere Reserve (PBR) were analyzed. A total of 36 circular plots of 15 m diameter were randomly set in the three main land use sites of the PBR. Thus, Shea butter production was estimated from 90 trees (30 trees in each site) selected randomly. Our results revealed a significant difference in trees traits which increase from the park and hunting zone to the farmlands. The highest production of the selected Shea trees was reported from the farmland. Thus, there is high variability between leaf sizes of trees within the sites while for the fruits the greatest variability is between fruits from same tree. The findings of this study showed that the morphological traits and the production of Shea butter trees could be affected by land use systems.

Autors et Adress

T. J. D. Akpona  M. K. Savi  R. Gle`le` Kakaı¨
Laboratory of Biostatistics and Forest Estimations,
Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, University of Abomey-
Calavi, 01 BP 526 Cotonou, Benin

T. J. D. Akpona (&)
BP 482 Parakou, Benin
e-mail: ajeandidier@gmail.com

H. A. Akpona  B. Ayihouenou
Ministe`re de l’Environnement et de la Protection de la
Nature, Direction Ge´ne´rale des Foreˆts et des Ressources
Naturelles, BP 393 Cotonou, Benin

B. A. Djossa
University of Agriculture, Ke´tou (Uak), Ke´tou, Benin

K. Daı¨nou
Nature Plus asbl, Rue Bourgmestre Gilisquet 57,
1457 Walhain, Belgium