Abstract
Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile is native to semi-arid regions in Africa where it is a well-known and conspicuous component of savannas. The species is highly preferred by local people because of its high socio-economic, cultural and ecological values. However, the species faces multiple environmental challenges such as desertification and human pressure. This study aimed to develop allometric models to predict aboveground biomass (AGB) of B. aegyptiaca in two climatic zones in Burkina Faso. Overall, thirty trees were sampled using destructive method in six study stands along two climatic zones. We assessed the biomass allocation to the different components of trees by computing its fraction. Furthermore, allometric models based on diameter at breast height (dbh) and basal diameter at 20 cm height (D20) were fitted separately as well as combined with crown diameter (CD) and/or tree total height (Ht). For each biomass component, non-linear allometric models were fitted. Branch biomass accounted for 64% of the AGB in the two climatic zones and increased with dbh. No significant difference in carbon content was found. However, biomass allotment (except leaves) varied across climatic zones. Although both dbh and D20 are typically used as independent variables for predicting AGB, the inclusion of the height in the equations did not significantly improve the statistical fits for B. aegyptica. However, adding CD to dbh improved significantly the equations only in the Sudano-Sahelian zone.The established allometric models can provide reliable and accurate estimation of individual tree biomass of the species in areas of similar conditions and may contribute to relevant ecological and economical biomass inventories.
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Claims 6
Claim · model-written summary
Branches accounted for 64% of aboveground biomass in both climatic zones and their biomass rose with dbh.
- Taxon
- Balanites aegyptiaca
Balanites aegyptiacat0 - Outcome
- Branch biomasse0
- Direction
- increasede0
- Value
- 64%e0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“Branch biomass accounted for 64% of the AGB in the two climatic zones and increased with dbh”
t0“Balanites aegyptiaca”
Claim · model-written summary
Carbon content did not differ significantly.
- Taxon
- Balanites aegyptiacaBalanites aegyptiacat0
- Outcome
- carbon contente0
- Direction
- No significant differencee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“No significant difference in carbon content was found”
t0“Balanites aegyptiaca”
Claim · model-written summary
Biomass allotment other than leaves varied across climatic zones.
- Taxon
- Balanites aegyptiacaBalanites aegyptiacat0
- Outcome
- biomass allotmente0
- Qualifier
- except leavese0
- Setting
- climatic zonese0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“biomass allotment (except leaves) varied across climatic zones”
t0“Balanites aegyptiaca”
Claim · model-written summary
Adding height did not significantly improve model fit.
Verbatim
e0“the inclusion of the height in the equations did not significantly improve the statistical fits for B. aegyptica”
Claim · model-written summary
Adding crown diameter to dbh significantly improved equations in the Sudano-Sahelian zone.
- Taxon
- Balanites aegyptiacaBalanites aegyptiacat0
- Treatment
- CDe0
- Outcome
- equationse0
- Direction
- improvede0
- Qualifier
- only in the Sudano-Sahelian zonee0
- Comparator
- dbhe0
- Setting
- Sudano-Sahelian zonee0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“adding CD to dbh improved significantly the equations only in the Sudano-Sahelian zone”
t0“Balanites aegyptiaca”
Claim · model-written summary
The established models can estimate individual tree biomass in similar areas.
- Taxon
- Balanites aegyptiacaBalanites aegyptiacat0
- Outcome
- estimation of individual tree biomasse0
- Qualifier
- areas of similar conditionse0
Not reportedComparatorValue
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.
Verbatim
e0“The established allometric models can provide reliable and accurate estimation of individual tree biomass of the species in areas of similar conditions”
t0“Balanites aegyptiaca”