Impacts of climatic factors on radial growth of selected Fabaceae woody species from West African dry savannas

Balima LH, Sanogo K, Gebrekirstos A, Nacoulma BMI, Thiombiano A, Bräuning A (2025)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2025

Journal

Trees-Structure and Function Springer Verlag (Germany)

Book Volume: 39

Article Number: 84

Journal Issue: 4

DOI: 10.1007/s00468-025-02664-4

Abstract

Key message: Rainfall-related variables control tree radial growth of Detarium microcarpum and Tamarindus indica in West Africa's semi-arid savannas. Abstract: West Africa constitutes a hotspot region for both land use change and climate change. Land use change, and high climate variability in this region negatively affect tree growth dynamics, ecosystem functioning and services. In the present study, we assessed the impacts of climate variability on tree growth of Detarium microcarpum Guill. & Perr. and Tamarindus indica L., two Fabaceae woody species with high socio-economic significance in West Africa. In total, we collected 18 stem discs from dead trees of the two species in the South-Sudanian phytogeographic zone in Burkina Faso. The studied species showed well-defined growth ring-boundaries demarcated by marginal parenchyma bands. Cross-dating was successful within disc and within species, and enabled the construction of statistically robust tree-ring index chronologies. The chronologies spanned 45 years (1974 − 2019) and 30 years (1990 − 2019) for D. microcarpum and T. indica, respectively. We found a significant variation in tree growth rates (p-value < 0.05) between D. microcarpum (1.711 ± 0.491 mm year−1) and T. indica (2.613 ± 0.473 mm year−1). Pearson correlation analyses showed that the standard ring-width index for both species positively correlated with total annual precipitation amounts (p-value < 0.05) and major seasonal precipitation (p-value = 0.05). However, no significant correlation was found between ring-width index and temperature related variables. These findings support that precipitation controls tree growth of D. microcarpum and T. indica in the semi-arid savannas of West Africa. Consequently, a decrease in mean annual rainfall in West African region may negatively affect tree growth rate and stand dynamics of the studied species.

Authors with CRIS profile

Achim Bräuning Lehrstuhl für Geographie (Physische Geographie)

Involved external institutions

Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) ID Indonesia (ID) World Agroforestry Centre KE Kenya (KE) Université de Ouagadougou / University of Ouagadougou BF Burkina Faso (BF) Institut des Sciences et de Technologie BF Burkina Faso (BF)

How to cite

APA:

Balima, L.H., Sanogo, K., Gebrekirstos, A., Nacoulma, B.M.I., Thiombiano, A., & Bräuning, A. (2025). Impacts of climatic factors on radial growth of selected Fabaceae woody species from West African dry savannas. Trees-Structure and Function, 39(4). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-025-02664-4

MLA:

Balima, Larba Hubert, et al. "Impacts of climatic factors on radial growth of selected Fabaceae woody species from West African dry savannas." Trees-Structure and Function 39.4 (2025).

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