ABSTRACT Climate change and overpopulation threaten many fruit tree species in Africa. This study evaluated the yield of Balanites aegyptiaca, a popular species throughout the continent. Productivity was monitored in natural populations over 5 years across two climatic zones in Burkina Faso. The yield of 72 trees in each climatic zone was estimated using the yield of different sized branches. Yield varied significantly over the 5 years within each climatic zone, between populations and within each tree. Mean (± SE) yield per tree (dry weight) was 2.00 ± 2.23 kg per year in the Sahelian zone and 4.65 ± 3.7 kg per year in the Sudano-Sahelian zone. There was a strong relationship between yield and the diameter of the tree at breast height (Adj.R2 > 63%, P < 0.05). Application of these models to natural populations showed that the trees could yield 51.93 kg/ha and 41.05 kg/ha in the Sahelian and Sudano-Sahelian zones, respectively. There was a close relationship between observed and predicted yields (y = x). These models are reliable and can be recommended for the prediction of B. agyptiaca yield in similar tropical areas.

中文翻译：

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Balanites aegyptiaca 的水果产量在西非热带干旱地区差异很大：对可持续性的影响

摘要 气候变化和人口过剩威胁着非洲的许多果树物种。这项研究评估了 Balanites aegyptiaca 的产量，这是整个非洲大陆的一种流行物种。对布基纳法索两个气候带自然种群的生产力进行了 5 年的监测。使用不同大小树枝的产量估算了每个气候带中 72 棵树的产量。5 年内，每个气候带内、种群之间和每棵树内的产量差异很大。在萨赫勒地区，每棵树的平均 (± SE) 产量（干重）为每年 2.00 ± 2.23 千克，在苏丹-萨赫勒地区为每年 4.65 ± 3.7 千克。产量与胸高处树木的直径之间存在很强的相关性（Adj.R2 > 63%，P < 0.05）。将这些模型应用于自然种群表明，这些树木在萨赫勒和苏丹-萨赫勒地区的产量分别为 51.93 公斤/公顷和 41.05 公斤/公顷。观察到的产量和预测的产量之间存在密切的关系 (y = x)。这些模型是可靠的，可推荐用于预测类似热带地区的 B. agyptiaca 产量。