Gum arabic yield in differently managed Acacia senegal stands in western Sudan

Abstract

A comparative study of gum arabic yield trends per tree and picking in relation to stand management by farmers and by researchers and type natural and planted was conducted at two locations in North Kordofan, Sudan, for a three-year period. In addition, eight-year yield trends in relation to rainfall were compared based on the 1993– 2000 gum yield data from 1440 trees. Although the gum arabic yield followed the same trend over time in all stands at both locations, the gum yield from farm stands, whether planted or natural, was 47% to 60% lower than that from research stands. Late tapping reduced the gum yield by 40% and 50% at the two different locations, respectively. Yield was highly affected by rainfall, correlating positively with annual rainfall in six of the eight years of the study. These findings can be used for improving gum arabic yield through management interventions and for predicting yield in relation to stand type, management regime and rainfall.