In Western Africa, interactions between trees and agricultural crops are a key element in determining parkland management in an agricultural environment that is rapidly changing. Eggplant (Solanum melongena), chilli pepper (Capsicum annuum), taro (Colocasia esculenta) and pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) were tested for their shade tolerance under Parkia biglobosa trees in south-central Burkina Faso using a split-plot design. Soil characteristics, chlorophyll fluorescence and crop growth and yield were measured to quantify the effect of P. biglobosa on the crops and their environment. The experiment ran during 2 years. P. biglobosa suppressed the vegetative growth and yield of pearl millet in both years. Eggplant and chilli pepper were severely injured by the rains and produced fruits only during the first year. Eggplant yields were suppressed by trees to between one third and one tenth of the yield in the control plots. However, chilli pepper yields increased by up to 150% when grown under the tree canopy compared to the control. In both years, the vegetative growth and yield of taro was higher when grown in the shade than outside the tree canopy.

Authors: Pouliot, M.; Bayala, J.; R bild, A.

Subjects: Colocasia esculenta, Capsicum annuum, root crops, Ipomoea batatas, Sorghum

Publication type: ISI, Journal Article, Publication

Year: 2011

ISSN: 0167-4366

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-011-9411-6