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Combined effects of tree size and tapping techniques on resin production of Boswellia dalzielii Hutch., an African frankincense tree

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Abstract

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Slant incisure tapping yielded the highest resin production. Resin production was proportional to tree size, tapping intensity, and frequency. Resin production was higher during hot dry season than cold dry season.

Abstract

Boswellia dalzielii Hutch. is an African frankincense tree species with high medicinal and economic values mostly derived from its resin. In Burkina Faso, it has potentials to be the source of significant income for local communities, but it is currently neglected and underutilized. This study aims to assess the species resin production in relationship to tree size, tapping technique, season, intensity, and frequency of harvesting in natural stands of Sudano-Sahelian zone of Burkina Faso. Two independent experiments were conducted on resin yield: (i) experiment 1 combined the tapping technique (six techniques) and tree stem-diameter (10–20 vs. 20–30 cm) using 120 trees; (ii) experiment 2 used the slant incisure tapping technique (best from the first experiment) and combined five tapping intensities (number of grooves: 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10), period of tapping (cold vs. hot dry season), and tree stem-diameter (10–20, 20–30, and > 30 cm), using 90 trees. For each experiment, resin production was collected every 2 weeks for 12 weeks. Analysis of variance and linear mixed model on longitudinal data were used for data analyses. All trees had exudated resin and the average resin yield per tree was 36.28 ± 8.62 g (experiment 1) and 40.43 ± 3.82 g (experiment 2). Tapping techniques and intensity, and tree stem-diameter had significant (P < 0.001) effect on resin yield. Slant incisure tapping yielded the highest resin production, followed by tapping in E-shape cut, V-shape cut and circular tape (intermediate yield production), whereas thin deep vertical incisure and node tape gave the lowest resin production. Larger trees exuded higher quantity of resin. Higher tapping intensity and frequency (wound renewal) also gave higher resin production. Trees tapped during hot dry season produced 1.23 times higher quantity of resin (44.58 ± 7.51 g) than in cold dry season. The findings of this research could help design better harvesting strategies for the sustainable management of B. dalzielii resources in West Africa.

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Availability of data and materials

The datasets generated during and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the authors upon request.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank and acknowledge the population and foresters of Niou village for accepting experience achievement on their lands and for their assistance. SKV was supported by the Climate Research for Alumni and Postdocs in Africa, 2021 (57560641) (Personal ref. no.: 91816591) which enabled fruitful collaboration.

Funding

This study was funded by the Aromatic Plants Research Center (APRC) and Mr Traoré Roland.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. UFR/SVT, Laboratory of Plant Biology and Ecology, University Joseph Ki-Zerbo, 03 BP 7021, Ouagadougou 03, Burkina Faso

    Prospère Sabo & Amadé Ouédraogo

  2. Laboratoire de Biomathématiques et d’Estimations Forestières, Faculty of Agronomic Sciences, University of Abomey-Calavi, 04 BP 1525, Cotonou, Benin

    Prospère Sabo, Kolawolé Valère Salako & Romain Glèlè Kakaï

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  1. Prospère Sabo
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  2. Kolawolé Valère Salako
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  3. Romain Glèlè Kakaï
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Contributions

Writing—revision and editing: SP, SKV, GKR, OA. Conceptualization: SP, OA. Data analysis: SP, SKV. Investigation and enquiry: SP. Methods: SP, SKV, GKR, OA. Funding: OA. Supervisors: OA, GKR. Validation: OA, GKR. Writing—preparation of the original draft: SP, SKV.

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Correspondence to Prospère Sabo.

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Communicated by Gaertner.

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Sabo, P., Salako, K., Glèlè Kakaï, R. et al. Combined effects of tree size and tapping techniques on resin production of Boswellia dalzielii Hutch., an African frankincense tree. Trees 36, 1697–1710 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-022-02320-1

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