Calorific value of Prosopis africana and Balanites aegyptiaca wood: relationships with tree growth, wood density and rainfall gradients in the West African Sahel

Prosopis africana (Guill., Perrott. and Rich.) Taub. and Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile are native tree species in the West African Sahel and provide wood for fuel, construction and other essential products. A provenance/progeny test of each species was established at one relatively dry site in Niger, and evaluated at 13 years. Results from the tests at 13 years indicated that there was significant genetic variation in tree growth and wood density in P. africana but not B. aegyptiaca; that provenance means for tree growth of both species, and for wood density and survival of P. africana increased from the more humid to the drier parts of the sample region; and that larger trees of both species tended to have denser wood. This paper presents additional results from the provenance/progeny tests of P. africana and B. aegyptiaca at 13 years The major objectives were to determine (a) if tree growth and wood density were correlated with calorific value of the wood, (b) if correlations among growth and wood variables differed in strength between the drier and more humid parts of the sample regions, and (c) if calorific value was related to rainfall gradients in the sample regions.

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