TITLE:
Productivity of cotton and sorghum in an agroforestry system of shea trees (Vitellaria paradoxa gaertn) in northern Benin
AUTHORS:
Césaire Paul Gnanglè, Charlemagne Gbemavo, Kouèssi Aïhou, Romain Glèlè Kakaï, Nestor Sokpon
KEYWORDS:
Ecophysiology; Productivity; Agrosystem; Cotton; Sorghum; Shea Tree; Shade-Tree Management; Benin
JOURNAL NAME:
Natural Science,
Vol.5 No.2,
February
18,
2013
ABSTRACT: This study evaluates the productivity of cotton and sorghum in a shea-based
agroforestry system in northernBenin.
Tomboutou and Gounarou villages were respectively selected in the shea
parklands of Bembèrèkè and Kandi. Within each parkland and village, three
classes of tree crown diameter for shea trees (4 -8
m, 8 -10 mand i.e.,
average plant height and average biomass, dropped by 9.75% and 29.31%, respectively,
when planted under the crown. Cotton under the crown was 6.58% shorter compared
to plants outside the crown. Average bud production and average fresh biomass
for cotton plants was 13.06% and 36.06% less, respectively, when planted under
the crown of shea trees.