Abstract
Faidherbia albida tree is known for its positive influence on most crops due to reverse leafing phenology. This study aimed at investigating the impact of pollarding F. albida on tree growth, wheat physiological performance and soil conditions. The study was conducted from June 2015 to October 2016 in Ejerssa Joro, a semi-arid region of Ethiopia. Leaflet per twig were scored. Sap flow volume and radial cambium growth were measured. Experimental design was employed with 1m2 areas under non-pollarded and pollarded trees from three directions and from different distances. Soil moisture, photosynthetically Active Radiation (PAR), air temperature and relative humidity (RH) were measured. Soil physicochemical properties were analysed. Wheat growth and physiology were measured. Sap volume in non-pollarded was 4590 L month−1 in January 2016 when the tree was fully foliated. Despite the spatiotemporal differences in leaflet per twigs between and within the trees, complete reverse leaf phenology was not observed during the study periods. Cambium growth was affected by pollarding F. albida. The PAR level and midday air temperature under non-pollarded were reduced by 77% and 6%, respectively. On the other hand, RH in dry periods and soil moisture in July under non-pollarded were higher by 15% and 42%, respectively. Most of the soil macronutrients found under non-pollarded trees ranged from moderate to high. The SPAD reading, shoot height and number tillers were significantly (p < 0.05) higher under non-pollarded trees compared to under pollarded trees of same distances. Thus, Pollarding F. albida reduced tree growth, wheat productivity, and understory microclimate conditions.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abdalla MM, El-Khoshiban NH (2017) The influence of water stress on growth, relative water content, photosynthetic pigments, some metabolic and hormonal contents of two Triticium aestivum cultivars. J Appl Sci Res 3:2062–2074
Adam GK (2012) Use of Faidherbia albida for soil improvement in smallholder farming systems of Gezawa local government area of Kano state, Nigeria. Res J Environ Earth Sci 4:895–899
Abate A, Fetene M, Woldu Z (1998) Investigations on Canopy features of three Indigenous woodland tree species of Ethiopia. SINET Ethiop J Sci 21(1):113–132
Barnes RD Fagg CW (2003) Faidherbia albida monograph and annotated bibliography. Oxford Forestry Instiatute. Tropical forestry papers, 41
Bayala J, Van Noordwijk M, Lusiana B, Ni'matul K, Teklehaimanot Z, Ouedraogo S (2008) Separating the tree-soil-crop interactions in agroforestry parkland systems in Saponé (Burkina Faso) using WaNuLCAS. In: Jose S., G.A.M. (Ed.), Toward Agroforestry Design. Springer pp. 285–297
Bianchinia E, Emmericka JM, Messettib AVL, Pimenta JA (2006) Phenology of two Ficus species in seasonal semi-deciduous forest in Southern Brazil. Braz J Biol 75:206–214
Bonkoungou EG (2001) Network on agroforestry and soil conservation. Secretariat of the convention to combat desertification. Lome, Togo, Lomé, Togo
Burgess SS, Adams MA, Turner NC, Ong CK (1998) The redistribution of soil water by tree root systems. Oecologia 115:306–311
Chen G, Wang S, Huang X, Hong J, Du L, Zhang L, Ye L (2015) Environmental factors affecting growth and development of Banlangen (Radix Isatidis) in China. African J Plant Sci 9:421–426
Chuyong GB, Acidri T (2017) Light and moisture levels affect growth and physiological parameters differently in Faidherbia albida (Delile) A.Che. Seedl Acta Physiol Plant 39:1–8
Dilla AM, Smethurst PJ, Barry K, Parsons D, Denboba MA (2018) Tree pruning, zone and fertiliser interactions determine maize productivity in the Faidherbia albida (Delile) A. Chev parkland agroforestry system of Ethiopia. Agrofor Syst 93:1897–1907
Fadl KEM (2010) Growth and yield of groundnut, sesame and roselle in an Acacia senegal agroforestry system in North Kordofan, Sudan. J Agric Rural Dev Trop Subtrop 111:35–40
Gajaseni J, Gajaseni N (1999) Ecological rationalities of the traditional homegarden system in the Chao Phraya Basin. Thailand Agrofor Syst 46:3–23
Gibbons P, Lindenmayer DB, Fischer J, Manning AD, Weinberg A, Seddon J, Ryan P, Barrett G (2008) The scattered trees in agricultural landscapes. Conserv Biol 22:1309–1319
Huxley PA (1985) The tree/crop interface or simplifying the biological/environmental study of mixed crop** agroforestry systems. Agrofor Syst 3:251–266
Imawan WH (2012) The ecological role of trees and their interactions in forming the microclimate amenity of environment. Bumi Lestari 10(2):182–190
Jorquera-Fontena E, Alberdi M, Franck N (2014) Pruning severity affects yield, fruit load and fruit and leaf traits of ‘Brigitta’ blueberry. J Soil Sci Plant Nutrit 14:855–868
Juo ASR (1978) Selected methods for soil and plant analysis manual, international institute of tropical Agriculture Ibadan, Nigeria, third edition
Kostner B, Biron P, Siegwolf R, Granier A (1996) Estimation of water vapour flux and canopy conductance of scots pine at the tree level utilizing different xylem sap flow methods. Theor Appl Climatol 53:105–113
Lasco RD, Delfino RJP, Espaldon MLO (2014) Agroforestry systems: hel** smallholders adapt to climate risks while mitigating climate change. Wires Clim Change 5:825–833
Luvanda A, Wangeci R, Nicholus J, Mwendwa P, Muchiri D, Sheikh M (2016) The ecological and socio-economic importance of Faidherbia Albida In Taita and Taveta, Kenya. Octa J Environ Res 4:1–7
Mehlich A (1984) Soil test extractant: a modification of mehlich2 extractant. Commun Soil Plant Anal 15:1409–1416
Meinzer FC, Goldstein G, Andrade JL (2001) Regulation of water flux through tropical forest canopy trees: Do universal rules apply? Tree Physiol 21:19–26
Mengistu DK (2009) The influence of soil water deficit imposed during various developmental phases on physiological processes of tef (Eragrostis tef). Agr Ecosyst Environ 132:283–289
Mokgolodi NC, Setshogo MP, Ling-ling S, Yu-jun L, Chao MA (2011) Achieving food and nutritional security through agroforestry: a case: F. albida in sub Africa. Stud China 13:123–131
Monicah M, Daniel M, Pieter P, Jayne M, James K, Bernard V, Roel M (2014) Enhancing maize productivity and profitability using organic inputs and mineral fertilizer in central Kenya small-hold farms. Expl Agric 50:250–269
Muthuri CW, Ong CK, Craigon BM, Mati VW, Black CR (2009) Gas exchange and water use efficiency of trees and maize in agroforestry systems in semi-arid Kenya. Agricult Ecosyst Environ 129:497–507
Ong C, Swallow B (2003) Water productivity in forestry and agroforestry. Water productivity in agriculture: limits and opportunities for improvement. 1, 217. Water productivity in agriculture: limits and opportunities for improvement (eds J.W. Kijne, R. Barker and D. Molden)
Reich PB, Oleksyn J, Modrzynski J, Mrozinski P, Hobbie SE, Eissenstat DM, Chorover J, Chadwick OA, Hal CM, Tjoelker MG (2005) Linking litter calcium, earthworms and soil properties: a common garden test with 14 tree species. Ecol Lett 8:811–818
Roupsard O, Ferhi A, Granie A, Pallo F, Depommier D, Malle B, Joly H, Dreyer E (1999) Reverse phenology and dry-season water uptake by Faidherbia albida (Del) AChev in an agroforestry parkland of Sudanese west Africa. Funct Ecol 13:460–472
Sanda AR, Atiku M (2013) Effect of Faidherbia albida on soil nutrients management in the semi-arid region of Kano, State, Nigeria. Int J Sci Technol Res 2(7):201–203
Schroth G, Lehmann J, Rodrigues MRL, Barros E, Macêdo JLV (2001) Plant-soil interactions in multistrata agroforestry in the humid tropics. Agrofores Syst 53:85–102
Sharmin M, Tjoelker MG, Pfautsch S, Esperón-Rodriguez M, Rymer PD, Power SA (2023) Tree traits and microclimatic conditions determine cooling benefits of urban trees. Atmosphere 14:1–19
Sida TS, Baudron F, Kim H, Giller KE (2018) Climate-smart agroforestry: Faidherbia albida trees buffer wheat against climatic extremes in the central rift valley of Ethiopia. Agricult Forest Meteorol 248:339–347
Siddique K, Tennant D, Perry M, Belford R (1990) Water use and water use efficiency of old and modern wheat cultivars in a Mediterranean-type environment. Austral J Agricult Res 41:431–447
Singh VK, Ravishankar H, Singh AK, Son M (2015) Pruning in guava (Psidium guajava) and appraisal of consequent flowering phenology using modified BBCH scale Indian. J Agricult Sci 85:1472–1476
Tadesse S, Gebretsadik Muthuri WC, Derero A, Hadgu K, Said H, Dilla A (2021) Crop productivity and tree growth in intercropped agroforestry systems in semi-arid and sub-humid regions of Ethiopia. Agroforest Syst. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-021-00596-9
Todd RW, Klocke NL, Hergert GW, Parkhurst AM (2019) Evaporation from soil influenced by crop shading crop residue and wetting regime. Am Soc Agricult Eng 34:461–466
Umar BB, Aune JB, Lungu OI (2013) Effects of Faidherbia albida on the fertility of soil in smallholder conservation agriculture systems in eastern and southern Zambia. African J Agricult Res 8(2):173–183
van Oijen M, Dauzat J, Harmand JM, Lawson G, Vaast P (2010) Coffee agroforestry systems in central America: i. a review of quantitative information on physiological and ecological processes. Agrofor Syst 80:341–359
Van-Schouwenberg JCH, Walinge I (1973) Methods of analysis for plant material. Univ. Wageningen, the Netherlands, Agri
Walkley AJ, Black IA (1934) Estimation of soil organic carbon by the chromic acid titration method. Soil Sci 37:29–38
Zeleke A (2016) Effects of scattered Acacia tortilis (Forssk) hayne on soil properties in different land uses in central rift valley of ethiopia. J Sustain Forest 36(2):1–13
Acknowledgements
The research was funded by Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) with the grant number 32016112ACAR1014.12NRB, under the project entitled ‘‘Tree for food security’’. Addis Ababa University is very much appreciated for the provision of instruments for ecophysiological measurement during the study periods. The authors would like acknowledge anonymous reviewers for the constructive comments and suggestions.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Contributions
A.A: Writing the draft manuscript; CM; Reviewing and Editing, AG: Reviewing Editing; KH; Reviewing and Editing; MF Reviewing, Editing and reorganizing the manuscript.
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The author declare no conflict of interest.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
About this article
Cite this article
Assefa, A., Muthuri, C.W., Gebrekirstos, A. et al. Tree growth and wheat productivity are affected by pollarding Faidherbia albida in semi-arid Ethiopia. Agroforest Syst 98, 783–796 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-023-00948-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-023-00948-7