Effects of livestock and prescribed fire on coppice growth after selective cutting of Sudanian savannah in Burkina Faso

Abstract

Can livestock grazing and/or fire regimes be used to promote coppice growth in Sudanian savannah silviculture? Effects of livestock and prescribed fire regimes on stool sprouting after selective cutting were followed during 6 years. Half the initial basal area (at stump height) of 10.8 m2 ha-1 (500 stems ha-1) was cut on 48 plots of 0.25 ha each. In a split-plot design with and without livestock, the effects of annual "early fire" (as soon as possible after end of the rainy season), no fire and 2 years without fire were tested. With moderate (50% of the potential) grazing of 0.7 TLU ha-1 stump mortality decreased and basal area per stool (stems > 10 cm GBH) increased, which we assume was due to reduced sprout/grass competition. Fire regimes had no major impact and no significant interaction was found. Six years after cutting, coppice basal area was 1.1 m2 ha-1, corresponding to a recovery of 20% of the initially removed area.