Abstract:
Adansonia digitata (Baobab) tree is a multipurpose indigenous fruit tree species with highl
y nutritional and economical value. It contributes significant benefits to the livelihood of
people in Africa. This study examines the population status, morphology, fruit production
and use of A. digitata tree in West Aramachiho district North West Ethiopia. Tree
morphometric traits such as stem diameter, height and crown diameter were measured
from 18 main plots with 50 m x 1000 m in three-land use type delineated area of park,
agricultural and riverine land use type. Five sub-plots 20 m x 20 m were nested on each
main plot purposively for regeneration assessment. Fruit production was also assessed
from 45 sample trees and 450 fruit capsule collected from these sample trees for fruit and
seed morphology characterization in University of Gondar seed laboratory. Socioeconomic data were collected from randomly selected 148 households. Data was analyzed
using descriptive and inferential statistics including chi-square and narrative, correlation,
T-test and ANOVA. Variation was observed in sparse density of the species across three
land uses (P = .001). Riverine and park land had higher densities of tree (2.2 ± 5.7 and 1.4
± 2.2) than agriculture land (0.8 ± 2.33 plant/ha). Population of A. digitata distributed in a
scatter and its regeneration status was very low. Fruit production was statistically
significant between tree size class (DBH) and within in land use type (P = 0.01) and (P=
0.03), respectively. Mean of fruit production was (44.53 ± 37.21 kg per tree). Diversity in
tree and fruit morphological traits was observed. Three types of growth habit and trunk
shape and twelve fruit shape types were identified in the study district. Ellipsoid, oblong
and ovate shapes being the dominant fruit capsule shapes occurred in 55.6% of the
sampled trees. Significant differences (p< 0.05) for fruit traits (fruit length, capsule weight,
pulp weight and seed weight) except fruit width and seed trait among fruit shape was
observed. Four uses of A. digitata were reported by the local community such as food,
commercial (selling), medicinal and fodder uses. However, the species is under-utilized
that only few people are engaged in the collection and marketing of A. digitata to
boarder trade and the product is not utilized in West Armachiho. Exploring the potential
uses, awareness creation, and promotion of the domestication of the species and commerci
alization of its products for domestic uses and recover low recruitments problems and susta
inable resource management of the species are recommended.
Keywords: A.digitata, Diversity, Fruit morphology, Population structure, Seed and Tree
Morphology