Silvicultural Management and Ecological Implications of Pruning Biomass in a Date Palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Plantation in Semi-Arid Northern Nigeriaigeria
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54536/ijsa.v4i1.7501Keywords:
Carbon Sequestration, Crown Diameter, Date Palm (Phoenix Dactylifera), Nutrient Cycling, Pruning Biomass, Semi-Arid Northern Nigeria, Silvicultural Management, Soil FertilityAbstract
Pruning is a critical silvicultural practice in date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) plantations, helping maintain canopy structure, improve productivity, and support ecological functions. In semi-arid Northern Nigeria, pruning generates substantial biomass that is often underutilized, leading to nutrient loss and reduced ecosystem efficiency. This study quantified pruning biomass and examined its ecological implications in the Garkuwa Date Palm Plantation, Sokoto State. A total of 748 trees, planted in 2003, were assessed across four plantation sections (GDPP I, II, III, and W). Pruned materials were categorized into branches, fronds, and leaflets, with fresh weight measured in the field and subsamples oven-dried at 70°C for 48 h to estimate dry biomass. Results indicated that branches contributed the largest proportion of biomass, peaking in GDPP III (2.9 kg/tree), while GDPP W recorded the lowest values. ANOVA revealed significant differences among sections (F = 5.62, p < 0.01), highlighting spatial variability in pruning yield. Visually estimated crown diameter correlated strongly with total biomass (r = 0.62, p < 0.01), confirming its utility as a practical predictor for residue management, whereas uniform stand age showed no significant effect. The study demonstrates the ecological value of pruning residues in nutrient cycling, soil fertility enhancement, and carbon sequestration. It further supports the use of crown diameter for estimating biomass in mature plantations. Integrating biomass management into silvicultural planning can improve resource efficiency and sustainability in semi-arid date palm agroecosystems.
References
Al-Khayri, J. M., Jain, S. M., & Johnson, D. V. (2021). Date palm genetic resources and utilization. Springer.
Abdelaal, A., Ahmed, A., Wang, H., Dalahmeh, S. S., Chehimi, M. M., Abdullah, A. M., & Jlassi, K. (2026). Date palm waste biochar for the adsorptive removal of pharmaceuticals: A review. Environmental Sciences Europe, 38, Article 59. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-026-01333-8
Ayele, G. T., Demissie, T. A., & Tilahun, S. A. (2022). Biomass production in dryland agroforestry systems. Agroforestry Systems, 96(4), 789–802. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-021-00675-2
Chao, C. T., & Krueger, R. R. (2007). The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.): Overview of biology, uses, and cultivation. HortScience, 42(5), 1077–1082.
García, J., Morales, R., & Martínez, L. (2023). Soil and vegetation interactions in drylands. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 345, 108312. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2022.108312
Hassani, A., El-Hamdaoui, A., & Zrari, K. (2021). Organic residue management in agroecosystems. Catena, 203, 105366. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2021.105366
Kim, H., & Lee, S. (2022). Woody biomass utilization and energy recovery systems. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 158, 112146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2022.112146
Lal, R. (2020). Carbon cycling in global drylands. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 84(4), 1201–1213. https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.20116
Lehmann, J., & Kleber, M. (2015). The contentious nature of soil organic matter. Nature, 528, 60–68. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature16069
Nair, P. K. R. (2011). Agroforestry systems and environmental sustainability. Springer.
Otaru, A. J., Albin Zaid, Z. A. A. A. Z., Alkhaldi, M. M., Albin Zaid, S. M. A. Z., & AlShuaibi, A. (2025). The bioenergy potential of date palm branch/waste through reaction modeling, thermokinetic data, machine learning KNN analysis, and techno-economic assessments (TEA). Polymers, 17(23), 3182. https://doi.org/10.3390/polym17233182
Poorter, H., Niklas, K. J., Reich, P. B., Oleksyn, J., Poot, P., & Mommer, L. (2012). Biomass allocation to leaves, stems and roots: Meta-analyses of interspecific variation and environmental control. New Phytologist, 193(1), 30–50. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-8137.2011.03952.x
Singh, P., Kumar, R., & Sharma, V. (2023). Crown–biomass relationships in forest ecosystems. Forest Ecology and Management, 531, 120758. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2022.120758
Zhao, Y., Wang, X., & Chen, J. (2023). Carbon sequestration in dryland ecosystems. Global Ecology and Conservation, 45, e02567. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2023.e02567
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Samaila Abdullahi, Zubairu Yakubu Gada
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
