Assessment of gum yield of Sterculia setigera Del. in relation to diameter and trees status

Abstract

Sterculia setigera Del. is well-known in Sub-Saharan Africa as a multipurpose tree species, especially due to the economic value of its gum. The present study carried out in the Kantindi experimental station was a contribution to the valorisation of S. setigera in Togo. It sought to appraise the gum yield capacity of S. setigera according to stem girth and target trees’ status. Trees tapping were realized on forty bearings non-burnt and twelve burnt trees with a girth equal or greater than 90 cm. Trees were tapped from 1 to 5 April 2014 and the harvest-time occurred three weeks later, 30th April 2014. The mean value of gum exudate from trees early burnt is higher than those obtained from non-burnt trees, respectively 103.25 ± 68.54 g and 64.44 ± 35.32 g. It increases with an increase in diameter. Even thought, the mean gum yield seems greater on burnt trees than non-burnt trees; the statistic tests showed no significant difference (p = 0.095). In contrast there is a significant difference according to the variation of tree diameter (p = 0.047). Expectation studies will scrutinize both quantitatively and qualitatively methods of gum tapping, nursery, and regeneration techniques.

Keywords

• Sterculia setigera
• gum
• yield
• tree diameter
• ecosystem services
• Togo