Abstract
A comparative study of gum arabic yield trends per tree and picking in relation to stand management (by farmers and by researchers) and type (natural and planted) was conducted at two locations in North Kordofan, Sudan, for a three-year period. In addition, eight-year yield trends in relation to rainfall were compared based on the 1993–2000 gum yield data from 1440 trees. Although the gum arabic yield followed the same trend over time in all stands at both locations, the gum yield from farm stands, whether planted or natural, was 47% to 60% lower than that from research stands. Late tapping reduced the gum yield by 40% and 50% at the two different locations, respectively. Yield was highly affected by rainfall, correlating positively with annual rainfall in six of the eight years of the study. These findings can be used for improving gum arabic yield through management interventions and for predicting yield in relation to stand type, management regime and rainfall.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
H.M. Abdel Rahman (2001) Effect of some growth parameters and age on gum and seed yield of Acacia senegal plantations and natural stands in North Kordofan Faculty of Forestry, University of Khartoum Sudan
K.H.M. Badi A.E. Ahmed A.M.S. Bayoumi (1989) The Forests of the Sudan, Khartoum Agricultural Research Council Sudan
E.B. Barbier (2000) ArticleTitleThe economic linkages between rural poverty and land degradation: some evidence from Africa Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment 82 355–370 Occurrence Handle10.1016/S0167-8809(00)00237-1
Bateson W., Umbadda S., Nour H.O. and Abdel Hai A.M. 1988. Sudan’s gum arabic sector: analysis and policy options. Report prepared for the United States Agency for International Development.
J.J.W. Coppen (1995) Gums, resins and latexes of plant origin. Non-Wood Forest Products 6 FAO Rome, Italy
W.P. Plessis Particledu (1999) ArticleTitleLinear regression relationships between NDVI, vegetation and rainfall in Etosha National Park, Namibia Journal of Arid Environments 42 235–260
M.A. Rasheed ParticleEl (1970) ArticleTitleThe production and role of gum arabic in the economy of the Sudan Y Coedwigwr. 6 IssueID3 xxx
El Tom M.A. 1986. Towards a drought-oriented climatic prediction system in Western Sudan. Proceedings of ISLSCP conference. Rome, Italy.
InstitutionalAuthorNameFAO (1978) Forestry for local community development Forestry Paper 7 FAO Rome, Italy
Fischer S.D. 1990. MSTAT-C Statistical Package. Michigan State University, Michigan, USA.
Friis-Hansen E. 1999. The socio-economic dynamics of farmers’ management of local plant genetic resources. Centre for Development Research (CDR). Working paper 99.3. 44 p.
GRD 1968. Annual Report. Gum Research Division, El-Obeid, Sudan.
GRD 1979. Annual Report. Gum Research Division, El-Obeid, Sudan.
J.U. Hielkema S.D. Prince W.L. Astle (1986) ArticleTitleRainfall and vegetation monitoring in the savanna zone of the democratic-republic of Sudan using the NOAA advanced very-high resolution radiometer International Journal of Remote Sensing 7 1499–1513
InstitutionalAuthorNameIIED and IES (1989) Gum arabic belt rehabilitation in the Republic of the Sudan: Stage 1 report International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) and Institute of Environmental Studies (IES). IIED London, UK
InstitutionalAuthorNameITC (1972) The marketing of the principal water-soluble gums in the producing countries and in the United States, the United Kingdom, France and the Federal Republic of Germany International Trade Centre (ITC) Geneva, Swiss
H.N. Houerou ParticleLe R.L. Bigham W. Skerbek (1988) ArticleTitleRelationship between the variability of primary production and the variability of annual precipitation in world arid lands Journal of Arid Environments 15 1–18
K.D. Muthana (1988) ArticleTitleGum arabic-the backbone of Kordofan Region, Sudan Myforest 24 IssueID2 95–98
NAS 1979. Tropical legumes: Resources for the future. Report of an Ad Hoc Panel of the Advisory Committee on Technology Innovation, Board of Science and Technology for International Development, Commission on International Relations, National Research Council. National Academy of Sciences, Washington, D.C., USA, 331 p.
InstitutionalAuthorNameNAS (1980) Firewood crops: shrub and tree species for energy production. Vol. 1 National Academy of Sciences Washington, D.C., USA
NKRDP 2001. Baseline Survey Report, North Kordofan Rural Development Project-IFAD. El-Obeid, Sudan.
A. Seif El Din (1984) ArticleTitleAgroforestry practices in the dry regions At-Tasahur 2 8–9
A. Seif El Din M. Obeid (1971) ArticleTitleEcological studies of the vegetation of the Sudan. The germination of seeds and establishment of seedlings of Acacia senegal (L.) Willd. under controlled conditions in the Sudan Journal of Applied Ecology 8 191–201
D. Verbeken S. Diereckx K. Dewettinck (2003) ArticleTitleExudate gums: occurrence, production, and applications Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 63 10–21 Occurrence Handle10.1007/s00253-003-1354-z Occurrence Handle1:CAS:528:DC%2BD3sXosVajt7s%3D Occurrence Handle12802529
E. Weiss S.E. Marsh E.S. Pfirman (2001) ArticleTitleApplication of NOAA-AVHRR NDVI time-series data to assess changes in Saudi Arabia’s rangelands International Journal of Remote Sensing 22 1005–1027
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Ballal, M.E., El Siddig, E.A., Elfadl, M.A. et al. Gum arabic yield in differently managed Acacia senegal stands in western Sudan. Agroforest Syst 63, 237–245 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-005-4162-x
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-005-4162-x