Variation in baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) root tuber development and leaf number among different growth conditions for five provenances in Malawi

dc.date.accessioned2020-08-25T09:40:13Z
dc.date.available2020-08-25T09:40:13Z
dc.date.issued2020-08-21
dc.identifierdoi:10.17170/kobra-202007291508
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/123456789/11719
dc.language.isoengeng
dc.rightsNamensnennung 4.0 International*
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/*
dc.subjectbaobabeng
dc.subjectindigenous fruit treeeng
dc.subjectMalawieng
dc.subjectroot tuberseng
dc.subjectunderutilised plantseng
dc.subject.ddc580
dc.subject.ddc630
dc.subject.swdBaobabger
dc.subject.swdObstbaumger
dc.subject.swdWurzelknolleger
dc.subject.swdBlattger
dc.subject.swdMalawiger
dc.titleVariation in baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) root tuber development and leaf number among different growth conditions for five provenances in Malawieng
dc.typeAufsatz
dc.type.versionpublishedVersion
dcterms.abstractThe baobab tree is an underutilised indigenous fruit tree in sub-Saharan Africa which, at the same time is vulnerable to overexploitation in areas close to centres of demand, as currently baobab use is limited to wild, baobab trees. Baobab seedlings are known to form root tubers, but little is known about their growth characteristics and its yield potential. This study aims to investigate the root tuber and leaf development of baobab seedlings grown from seeds of five provenances, sown at three different planting distances in two nursery trials at climatically distinct locations in Malawi, namely Mzuzu and Mangochi. The observed yield data was fed into preliminary farm-gate profitability analyses for three different scenarios that differed by planting distance. Results indicate increased growth rates for root dry mass and number of developed leaves with increasing planting distance. However, we did not find a significant effect of seedling provenance on any of the measured plant growth parameters. Seedlings invested mainly into root development during the growth period, with root tubers reaching an average fresh weight of 41 ± 39 g and an average length of 24 ± 11.9 cm at 138 days after sowing. Profitability analyses showed a potential total net benefit of 12.78 USD per harvest cycle of 16 weeks and per 100 m² of land cultivated with baobab root tubers, which was better than an alternative scenario of maize cropping on the same area that showed a negative total net benefit when cost of family labour was included. However, the heterogeneity of root tuber development as affected by abiotic and biotic factors like soil fertility and water availability, as well as genetic origin warrant further investigation.eng
dcterms.accessRightsopen access
dcterms.creatorJanson, Lennart
dcterms.creatorDarr, Dietrich
dcterms.creatorHansohm, Nele
dcterms.creatorGebauer, Jens
dcterms.creatorMeinhold, Kathrin
dcterms.creatorMunthali, Chimuleke R. Y.
dcterms.creatorWichern, Florian
dcterms.source.identifierEISSN 2363-6033
dcterms.source.issueNo. 2
dcterms.source.journalJournal of Agriculture and Rural Development in the Tropics and Subtropics (JARTS)eng
dcterms.source.pageinfo161-172
dcterms.source.volumeVol. 121
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