TITLE:
Influence of Pterocarpus erinaceus Poir. on the Growth and Yields of Groundnut (Arachis hypogea L.) in Agroforestry Parks in the Districts of Tenghory and Kataba 1 (Bignona Department, Lower Casamance)
AUTHORS:
Abdou Goudiaby, Ismaïla Coly, Aliou Badji, Mamadou Kane, Daouda Ngom
KEYWORDS:
Arachis hypogea, Pterocarpus erinaceus, Yield, Tenghory and Kataba 1
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.12 No.10,
October
18,
2021
ABSTRACT: In Lower Casamance, Pterocarpus erinaceus occupies a very important place in
agroforestry parks. It is often grown in association with the most important
cash crop of the area, groundnut (Arachis
hypogea L.). Thus, the objective of this study is to contribute to a better
understanding of the interactions between trees and groundnut cultivation in
agroforestry parks in Lower Casamance. To this end, in each of the two
districts (Tenghory and Kataba 1) three Pterocarpus
erinaceus trees were selected in three separate communes. For each P. erinaceus tree selected and following
each of the four cardinal directions, three situations were defined: at R/2, at
1.5 R and at 2 R from the trunk, with R the radius of the crown. Thus, 12 yield
squares were installed around each selected tree, for a total of 72 yield
squares installed in the two districts. The parameters measured were the height
of the peanut plants, the number of pods produced per plant, and the yield in
flakes and pods. The results show that geographical orientation significantly
influenced plant height (p = 0.004) but not the number of pods/plant (p = 0.6).
As for the distance to the trunk of Pterocarpus
erinaceus, it induced a significant variation in the number of pods/plant
(p = 0.009) but did not induce a significant effect on the other parameters.
Yields varied between 1.56 Tons M S /ha and 2.02 Tons M S /ha for the hay, and
between 1.03 Tons M S /ha and 1.45 Tons M S/ha for the pods. The results of
this study constitute a useful source of information for a better management of
the productivity of the agroforestry parks of the department of Bignona.