Laminou M.O., Dan Guimbo I., Habou R., Dadé H.
The study, on the possibilities of using Leptadenia hastata in the degraded lands reclamation, was carried out on sand dune and lateritic soils in the district of Niamey (Niger). The aim is to investigate the capacity of L. hastata to grow and to develop on degraded soils. Three (3) experimental sites were selected: a plateau field, a sand dune field and a nursery. Observations and measurements made included (i) adaptation parameters of the species, including growth in length, roots and leaves of cuttings and seedlings from seeds, recovery and regeneration of cuttings, survival of cuttings and seedlings and (ii) soils protection parameters such as seedlings covered area and herbaceous species inventory which seeds were trapped with sediment loads under L. hastata plants. Results showed that, in the nursery, the weekly growth of seedlings is greater on the sand dune soil than that on the lateritic on with average values of 6.80 ± 4.94 and 3.12 ± 2.12 cm/week, respectively. On the field sites, the average growth of plants twigs, weekly observed, is always greater on the sand dune site with a value of 15.00 ± 1.04 cm than that on the lateritic one. Two months after cuttings have been made, their main branches showed more significant growth on sandy soil (70.64 ± 41.88 cm) than on the lateritic one (57.76 ± 31.70 cm). Also, analysis of variance showed a very significant difference in leaf length and width on the soil types. Leaves are longer on seedlings (14.61 ± 1.64 cm) while larger on cuttings (8.42 ± 0.74 cm). These results showed a high survival capacity of L. hastata species, an easy propagation through vegetative method at lower cost. Also, the species contributes effectively to restore plant biodiversity on degraded soils. The study showed that this species could be used in land reclamation in Niger.
PDF
