Practical Manual No. 4 BAOBAB Adansonia digitata Field Manual for Extension Workers and Farmers 2006 ii Copies of this handbook can be obtained by writing to the address below: Southampton Centre for Underutilised Crops or International Centre for Underutilised Crops School of Civil Engineering and the Environment c/o International Water Management Institute University of Southampton 127 Sunil Mawatha Southampton Pelawatte, Battaramulle SO17 1BJ Sri Lanka UK ISBN 0854328173 © Southampton Centre for Underutilised Crops, ICUC, 2006 Printed at RPM Print and Design, Chichester, England Citation: SCUC (2006), Baobab Manual, Field Manual for Extension Workers and Farmers, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK. THE FRUITS FOR THE FUTURE PROJECT This publication is an output from a research project funded by the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) for the benefit of developing countries. The views expressed are not necessarily those of DFID [R7187 Forestry Research Programme]. A series of underutilised fruits is being researched, and this is Practical Manual No. 4, dealing specifically with Adansonia digitata. iii CONTENTS PART I CONTENTS............................................................................................................................................iv PREFACE................................................................................................................................................vi 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................ 1 2. WHY GROW BAOBAB TREES?........................................................................................................... 2 2.1 Nutritional value ........................................................................................................................... 2 2.2 Socio-economic value.................................................................................................................... 2 2.3 Medicinal...................................................................................................................................... 3 2.4 Timber.......................................................................................................................................... 3 2.5 Cultural ........................................................................................................................................ 3 2.6 Environmental impact ................................................................................................................... 3 3. WHERE TO GROW BAOBAB TREES...................................................................................................4 3.1 Climatic requirements for cultivation.............................................................................................. 4 3.2 Site requirements........................................................................................................................... 4 3.3 Land use systems ........................................................................................................................... 4 4. WHAT TO GROW ............................................................................................................................. 5 4.1 Morphological variability in baobab .............................................................................................. 5 4.2 Propagule type ............................................................................................................................. 5 4.2.1 Seed propagation .................................................................................................................... 5 4.2.2 Vegetative propagation .......................................................................................................... 6 5. HOW TO GROW BAOBAB TREES .....................................................................................................7 5.1 Selection of planting materials........................................................................................................ 7 5.2 Nursery establishment ................................................................................................................... 7 5.2.1 The nursery site....................................................................................................................... 7 5.2.2 Nursery containers and potting mixture .................................................................................. 8 5.3 Seed propagation.......................................................................................................................... 8 5.3.1 Seed collection and handling ................................................................................................... 8 5.3.2 Seed pre-treatment ................................................................................................................. 9 5.4 Vegetative propagation................................................................................................................ 10 5.4.1 Stem cuttings.......................................................................................................................... 10 5.4.2 Grafting................................................................................................................................. 10 5.5 Field establishment....................................................................................................................... 12 5.5.1 Land preparation ................................................................................................................... 12 5.5.2 Transplanting ........................................................................................................................ 12 5.5.3 Pit planting............................................................................................................................ 13 5.5.4 Time of planting.................................................................................................................... 13 5.6 Field management ....................................................................................................................... 13 5.6.1 Weeding ................................................................................................................................ 13 5.6.2 Irrigation ............................................................................................................................... 13 5.6.3 Fertilisers ............................................................................................................................... 14 5.6.4 Pruning ................................................................................................................................. 14 5.6.5 Intercropping ........................................................................................................................ 14 5.6.6 Windbreaks ........................................................................................................................... 14 5.6.7 Protection from pests and diseases ......................................................................................... 15 6. HARVESTING.................................................................................................................................... 16 6.1 Harvesting time ............................................................................................................................ 16 6.1.1 Leaves .................................................................................................................................... 16 6.1.2 Fruits ..................................................................................................................................... 16 6.1.3 Bark....................................................................................................................................... 16 6.2 Fruit ripeness and yield ................................................................................................................ 16 6.3 Harvesting techniques .................................................................................................................. 16 6.3.1 Leaves.................................................................................................................................... 16 6.3.2 Fruits..................................................................................................................................... 17 6.3.3 Bark ...................................................................................................................................... 17 7. PROCESSING AND STORAGE ........................................................................................................... 17 7.1 Processing..................................................................................................................................... 17 iv 7.1.1 Leaves .................................................................................................................................... 17 7.1.2 Fruit pulp............................................................................................................................... 17 7.1.3 Seeds ..................................................................................................................................... 18 7.1.4 Bark......................................................................................................................................