Management of trees in association with crops in traditional agroforestry systems - Managing Agrodiversity the Traditional Way - page 162

Table 13.4 Tree species left in situ in farms in the Sudan savanna zone

Scientific name Common name

Parkia biglobosa West African locust bean

Adansonia digitata Baobab

Ceiba pentandra Kapok

Butyrospernum parkii Shea butter

Balanites aegyptica -

Vitex doniana Blackberry

Faidherbia albida -

Afzelia africana -

Diospynis mespiliformis Ebony tree

Gerdenia spp. -

Ficus spp. -

Tamarindus indica Tamarind

Lannea acida -

Isoberline spp. -

The major difference in these two zones is the density of trees, which is higher in
the Guinea savanna zone.
Trees are left in situ on farm for various reasons. The most important reasons
are to:
•

secure edible leaves, fruits, and seeds for human as well as livestock con-
sumption

• provide shade for humans and livestock

• provide material for medicinal purposes

• serve as landmarks for farm and property boundaries

control soil erosion and improve soil fertility.
An interesting attribute of the practice is that some of the tree species are self-
propagating and, thus, human labour for planting is minimized. Another is that the
evergreen nature of the species ensures a constant supply of fodder and browsing
material for livestock. The phenology of the tree species, e.g. Faidherbia albida ,
allows crop cultivation at the appropriate time. The tree management practices are
similar to those in the Guinea savanna zone.

•

Coastal savanna zone

The coastal savanna is located mainly in the coastal strip between Sekondi and
the Ghana-Togo border. It covers the Greater Accra region, and parts of the Volta,
Central, Eastern, and Western regions.

Traditional cropping systems

The cropping system is typically cassava based. Within this broad system are the
subsystems of cassava /livestock and vegetable/cassava. Patterns of crop cultiva-