The Effect of Tapping Methods and Some Tree Growth Parameters on Productivity of Acacia seyal in South Kordofan State, Sudan
[1]
Taha Mohamed El Nour, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, University of Kordofan, Elobeid, Sudan.
[2]
Ali Elsir Yunus Mohamed, Faculty of Natural Resources and Environmental Studies, University of Sinnar, Elsuky, Sudan.
[3]
Tsegaye Bekele, Wood Technology at Wondo Genet College of Forestry and Natural Resources, Hawassa University, Wondo Genet, Ethiopia.
The study was conducted at Um Fakarin Natural Reserved Forest (Al Abbasia Forest Circle), South Kordofan State, Sudan in season 2012/2013 to investigate the effects of tapping tools, position of tapping and some tree growth parameters on yield potential of Acacia seyal (variety seyal Del., gum talha). Two-level factorial experiment was carried out. The first factor comprised two levels of tapping position: stem and branches. The second factor constituted four types of tapping tools: traditional axe, sonkey, mengaf and makmak, besides the control. A randomized complete block design (RCBD) was used with four replications. The tree growth parameters measured were diameter at breast height, total tree height and average crown diameter. Tapping was carried out on the 1st of November, then first and subsequent picks were done in interval of one month, till the 1st of June (7 picks). After having been dried at room temperature for 48 hours, the collected gum was then weighed and recorded. The findings showed no significant differences in yield in relation to tapping tools. The same result was obtained in case of positions of tapping except in the 5th pick (p ≤ 0.05). Results proved no significant effects of interacted tools and position of tapping except in the 7th pick (p ≤ 0.05). Branches tapped with the sonkey gave the highest yield (41.98g) per tree per season; however the lowest yield (16.61g) was obtained from branches tapped with the traditional axe. The study showed positive correlation between gum yield and stem diameter (r = 0.146), whereas inverse correlation was recorded between gum yield and both tree height (r = - 0.155) and crown diameter (r = - 0.106). Coefficient of variation for gum yield for the season was calculated as 49.3%. The study recommended conduction of experiments on gum yield in permanent trial plots in order to have data of seasonal time series, aspiration towards establishment of high yielding Talh stands, in addition to intensification of extension packages to raise awareness of local people about importance of Acacia seyal and use of the sonkey as an appropriate tool for tapping, besides study of other local tools.
Tapping Tools, Gum Yield, Factorial Experiment, RCBD, Coefficient of Variation, South Kordofan
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