Ecology, Composition and Population Structure of Vitellaria Paradoxa Subspecies Nilotica (Kotschy), A.N

ECOLOGY, COMPOSITION AND POPULATION STRUCTURE OF VITELLARIA PARADOXA SUBSPECIES NILOTICA (KOTSCHY), A.N. HENRY ET.AL.), IN ETHIOPIA: IMPLICATION FOR SUSTAINABILITY OF PRODUCTION Paper Presented On Naturally African : In support of African natural products development and marketing Sub-regional Consultative workshop For Eastern Africa Nairobi, Kenya, 18 - 20 May 2009 By Deribe Gurmu Benti (PhD) May 18, 2009 Table of content 1. INTRODUCTION 2. OBJETIVOS 3. MATERIAL AND METHODS 4. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 5. CONCLUSIONES AND RECOMMENDTION IntroductionIntroduction n Vitellaria paradoxa belongs to: order ebenales, family Sapotaceae, genus vitellaria n The genus contains two subspecies: n ssp. paradoxa n ssp. nilotica n Deciduous in the dry seasons n Medium-sized, 12-15 meters (rarely up to 25 meters high) It has poor Vitellaria paradoxa ssp. nilotica stem forms with various tree:Gambella Region forms of crowns and is deep rooted Introduction Contd………………………. The tree has gnarled growth with umbellate to multiple flabellate and cauliflower crowns Cauliflower Umbellate multiple flabellate Introduction Contd………………………………………………………………………………. It has conspicuously thick, It exhibits pale, pink to red corky, horizontally colour, when slashed and longitudinally deeply fissured barked stem Leaves in large, dense fascicles, spirally arranged Secrets white at the end of the stout latex, as do broken twigs/ branches twigs or petioles Juvenile leaves are rust- red and pubescent The leaves are oblong Introduction Contd………………………………. At the time of peak flowering (January to February), the tree is Immature nearly covered with fruit green-yellowish flowers in terminal cluster of containing 30-40 each at the generally leafless tips only one oval or round red- brown fruit/nut (the ‘shea nut’) Seeds have white rarely more scar down one than one side. They are surrounded by a fragile, shining shell with a large round rough helium on a broad base ReproductiveReproductive BiologyBiology andand MorphologyMorphology n Loses it leaves from December through January to February n flushes during the month of March to April n Flowering lasts for about five to seven months (November to the late April or early May) n Flowers are cross-pollinated by insects and wind n A variety of birds, ungulates and primates, including humans, eat the fruit dispersing the seed in the process Reproductive Biology and Morphology Cont……. n Fruiting starts at the end of the dry seasons (December-January) and peaks from February-April n Seeds mature during the rainy seasons (March- May). Harvesting occurs mainly from May-August n the seeds of Vitellaria are recalcitrant n the viability falls rapidly after the removal of the fruit from its mother tree and is lost completely within 3-6 weeks requiring an immediate seeding Propagation and Management n Direct seeding or seedlings propagate vitellaria trees n Germination is cryptogeal that is, the shoots arise from below ground even though the seeds germinate on the surface n Growing the species directly, in- situ, is sometimes recommended because of the long taproot n Transplanting is difficult n Seedlings raised in pots should be out-planted after 14-24 weeks and be planted after 12 months as balled planting stock n The trees start bearing fruit in 12- 15 years Propagation and Management Contd.………. n Wide spacing n Good site preparation n Weeding n protection against fire and browsing are essential management activities for the species n the trees grow relatively slowly at first, but the growth rates can be accelerated by adding compost and fertilizer n Successful cultivation of the species can be attempted only on well drained sites with a good water supply, such as along seasonal water courses, but avoids flooding Ecological Distribution Of Vitellaria n Vitellaria occurs in a belt stretching across Africa, from Senegal to Sudan, marginally extending to Ethiopia (Hall et al., 1996) n The ssp. paradoxa occurs in Africa Senegal and stretches to the Central African Republic n The ssp. nilotica mostly occurs in Uganda and Sudan, marginally extends to Zaire and Ethiopia, n The ssp. nilotica has a much more compact range (1600 km from north to south) than the ssp. paradoxa which extends to about 4700 km between the western and eastern limits covering 18 West Ethiopia Gambella African countries (Hall et al., 1996). n the distribution of the species as a whole is within the belt some 500- 750 km wide running 5000 km from west to east in areas receiving 600-1400mm of rainfall. n In Ethiopia, the ssp. nilotica occurs at an altitude of ≤600 m.a.s.l, growing on very poor soil types, in pocket areas of Abobo, Itang, Gambella and Gog Woredas (Districts) of the Gambella National Regional state NamingNaming n The ssp.paradoxa is commonly known as Karite (Francophone) n the sheanut or shea tree (Anglophone) n Schibutterbaum or Sheabutterbaum (German) n Tango (Spanish) n Lulu (Arabic) n Balire or kareje (Mali) n man ka’danya (Nigeria), in West Africa n while the ssp.nilotica of the East is known by different local names. For instance, it is known as Waedo, in Ethiopia, Yao, in Uganda, Lulu, in Sudan etc. Economic Uses and Environmental Services n Uses n The wood is used for: n Engineering structures, house posts and support poles n Ship building, for shingles, stakes and fencing, sleepers, medium and heavy-duty flooring, joinery, seats, household utensils, durable platters and bowls, pestles and mortars and tool handles n It makes good charcoal and fuelwood n Ash produced from the wood is used as a dying material n The Oil/butter produced from the seeds/kernels is used as: n cooking oil medicinal ointment n soap making n skin moisturizer n illuminant/candles n cosmetics n fruits consumed fresh Uses Contd…………………………... n The bark extracts are taken as n a drink or bath as antimicrobial to (Sarcina lutea and Staphyllococus aureus) n a bark infusion is used as an eyewash § a footbath to help extract jiggers § to neutralize the venom of the spitting Cobra § Infusions to treat leprosy in Guinea-Bissau § To cure gastric problems § Macerated with the bark of Ceiba pentandra and salt § infusions have been used to treat cattle with worms in Senegal and Guinea § Decoction serve as a bath to facilitate childbirth in Cote d’Ivoire § drunk to encourage lactation after delivery n Leave decoction/seething are used n for toothache n for headaches n an eye-lotion n Serve as bee-forage and animal fodder Uses Contd…………………………... Roots and root bark are ground to paste and taken n orally to cure jaundice n are boiled and pounded to treat chronic sores and girth sores in horses n The latex is heated and mixed with palm oil to n make glue n sap has been used traditionally to repair n punctured drums n useful ingredient in n sun-protection or post-sun-exposure products n encourages wound healing, dislocations, swelling, bruises, soothes skin irritation n treats diarrhea, dysentery and stomach-ache, inflammation, rashes in children, dermatitis, sunburn, chapping, irritation, ulcers n Serve as a base for suppositories n serves as a rub for rheumatism n Other uses include: n waterproofing of house wall n as well as religious rituals n Ameliorates the climate n Of all these, the oil/butter produced out of the kernels/nuts is the most important; which in West Africa is, second in importance only to palm The Unique Products Of The African ‘Cinderella’ By Source Oil Fruit Butter Kernel Chopstick Moisturizers kernel The Unique Products Of The African ‘Cinderella’ Contd…………... Latex Fodder Leaves Stump Forage Flower Tree Food Medicine Fruit Bark Variations In Oil and Butter n The West African species ssp. paradoxa provides solid butter n The East African species, ssp, nilotica, gives liquid oil due to the different proportions of stearin (solid) and olein (liquid) fraction Oil/Butter Processing Loop (clockwise) Seed De-pulping collection Drying Fractional or Distillation Oil/Butter Roasting Boiling Pounding Oil/butter processing entails kernel/seed collection, de-pulping, roasting, pounding, boiling and fractional distillation The Shea kernels/ Oil/Butter as an Export Commodity n Since 14th century in west Africa n Since 18th century in Zaire n Since 1910 in Sudan and Uganda n the Agnuak ethnic groups of the Gambella National regional State n may have began producing oil from the ssp. nilotica about the same time n But, over all oil from the ssp. nilotica has so far had negligible commercial impact internationally compared to the ssp. Paradoxa as the oil extracted from the ssp. nilotica is exclusively used domestically The study n Despite the multiple uses it provides this ‘Cinderella’ tree species is given less attention. Thus the objective of this study was to analyze the ecological distribution, composition and population structure of Vitellaria paradoxa and to offer a practicable solution to help informed n Description of the Study Sites § This study was carried out in four representative Woredas (Districts) namely: § Abobo, Itang, Gambella, and Gog, of the Gambella Region some 780 km to the south-western part of the capital city, Addis Ababa. 1. Abobo Woreda (District) § is located 70:38’-80:07’ N latitude and 330:56’- 340:35’ E longitude. It has altitudes less than 500 m.a.s.l. § It has a total land area of about 329,700 ha of which about § 19,798 ha are cultivated lands § 143, 086 ha are forests of varying types § 75,227 ha are woodlands § 5,793 ha are shrub lands § 62,996 ha are grass lands § 20, 876 ha are swamps § 1,944 ha are classified as others (GNRS-BOA, 2001, WBISPP, 2001) The study contd….. n The soils of the area are mainly of nitosols, fluvisols, vertisols and acrisols n The area receives mean annual rainfall of about 1000-1600 mm n It is mono-modal n It has a mean minimum temperature of about 17.90C and a mean maximum temperature of about 35.30 C.

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