SOME ASPECTS OF ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT OF BOSWELLIA PAPYRIFERA Del. HOCHEST) IN JEBEL MARRA MOUNTAINS; DAR FUR, SUDAN
SOME ASPECTS OF ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT OF BOSWELLIA PAPYRIFERA Del. HOCHEST) IN JEBEL MARRA MOUNTAINS; DAR FUR, SUDAN
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Date
2015-04-14
Authors
Abdalla, Abuelgasim
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
UOFK
Abstract
This is an ecologically and managerially oriented research of
Boswellia papyrifera in the western and southern sub-hills of Jebel
Marra, an isolated volcanic massif in the heart of African content. The
research was conducted in the period from April 2001 to Nov. 2002.
This research attempted to study Boswellia papyrifera under the
following aspects: land forms and soils, the growing stock, natural
regeneration, seed and seed germination, phenology and resin
collection.
Four representative Boswellia sites were chosen for this study.
Composite soil samples were taken for physical and chemical
analysis. The systematic circular line-plot design was used for the
inventory of the growing stock, quadrats as subplots were used for
natural regeneration surveys. Germination and viability tests were
carried out for the seeds. Resin collections on the basis of diameter at
breast height were made, interviews with resin producers were carried
out and finally the phenology of the species was observed.
The most important results of this research are:
Sloping sites were found to be representative for the
occurrence of Boswellia papyrifera. Soils of Boswellia
papyrifera are sandy loam to sandy clay loam.
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Boswellia papyrifera was found to be dominant, frequent,
abundant and with an importance value index of 188.5.
Boswellia is a prolific seed producer, the seeds are three
folds, empty, insect infested and viable seeds, and the latter
are the smallest in number. The germination of seeds does
not exceed 7% under all treatments and the seedlings
survival rates ranges from 27.6 - 31.8%.
The most important outcome of this study is the lack of
natural regeneration. The main reasons behind are grazing,
fires, weed competition and water erosion. The phenophases
of the species were found to be determined by rain fall and
the flowering habit of Boswellia papyrifera is indeterminate.
The average annual resin production per tree is 1.44kg/tree,
and the optimum productive diameter at breast height ranges
between 16-34 cm., trees with diameters at breast height
over 34cm are less productive.
Resin production was found to be affected by season. In the
early season resin production is low and the intervals of
collection is prolonged to four weeks, while in the late
season resin production increases and the intervals of
collections is shortened to two weeks.
Description
Keywords
ASPECTS,ECOLOGY,MANAGEMENT,BOSWELLIA,PAPYRIFERA,JEBEL,MARRA,MOUNTAINS,DAR FUR, SUDAN