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and Terminalia spp.. Timber production and light reduction both call
for pollarding high up, at 12-15 m, but shade tolerance and pole
or fito production call for lower and less frequent pollarding. It is
important to consider the land-use pattern throughout the year before
recommending tree planting in cropland. Post-harvest grazing and
burning of crop residues are other factors that need to be taken into
account.
Benefits and risks
Establishment of trees is easy since the tree seedlings will benefit from
weeding and protection of the crop. A variety of products can be
harvested from the trees, and among service functions soil
improvement, wind-speed reduction and improved microclimate are
important. Too many trees can cause reduced yields due to shade,
and trees may attract birds which may be a threat to crops.
Competitive trees with shallow roots, such as Eucalypts, pines
and Acacia mearnsii should be avoided. Trees that cannot be pollarded
and which grow to a considerable size producing dense shade should
also be avoided, e.g. Acrocarpus fraxinifolius. Other trees to avoid
are Croton megalocarpus, Cupressus lusitanica and Ficus
benjamina. Nematode build-up has been reported under Sesbania
sesban.
Table 7: Examples of species good for savannah areas (disperse areas)
Common name Scientific Name Common name Scientific name
Batai Wood Albizia Siala Markhamia lutea
falcataria
Cassod tree Cassia siamea Wattles Acacia spp
African Myrrh Commiphora Red Bushwillow Combretum spp.
eminii
Cretan Shrew zimmermanni Blue Wiss Terminalia spp.
Yoruba
Silk Oak Grevillea Monkey Bread Piliostigma
robusta thonningii
River Bean Sesbania Red-Hot-Poker Erythrina
sesban Tree abyssinica
Sycamore Tree Ficus Splinter Bean Entada
sycomorus abyssinica
Coastal-golden Bridelia Desert Date Balanites
leaf micrantha aegyptiaca
Broad-leaved Croton White Mullberry Morus spp.
Croton macrostachyus
Large-leaved Cordia African Beech Faurea saligna
Cordia abyssinica
Fern tree Jacaranda Natal Fig Ficus natalensis
mimosifolia