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This version available http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/8233/ NERC has developed NORA to enable users to access research outputs wholly or partially funded by NERC. Copyright and other rights for material on this site are retained by the authors and/or other rights owners. Users should read the terms and conditions of use of this material at http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/policies.html#access This document is the author's final manuscript version of the journal article, incorporating any revisions agreed during the peer review process. Some differences between this and the publisher's version remain. You are advised to consult the publisher's version if you wish to cite from this article. www.springerlink.comContact CEH NORA team at noraceh@ceh.ac.ukThe NERC and CEH trade marks and logos ('the Trademarks') are registered trademarks of NERC in the UK and other countries, and may not be used without the prior written consent of the Trademark owner. 28 root and whole plant weights) and indices (sturdiness quotient 'SQ', shoot:root dry 29 weight ratio 'SRR' and Dickson's quality index 'DQI'). In the nursery, all species 30 performed better in the ordinary nursery soil for all growth parameters except root length.31 Thus ordinary nursery substrate appeared superior to sand in terms of plant quality.32 However, a follow up at plantation phase revealed that only some morphological 33 attributes or ratios were suitable to predict field performance for the five tested species in 34 irrigated plantation. In addition, the effect of the substrate observed at the nursery stage 35 had disappeared 12 months after out planting due to the availability of water and nutrients 36 provided by the treated waste water used for the irrigation. The results showed that root 37 collar diameter and DQI appeared to be the most appropriate indicators to predict the 38 outplanting performance of the five tested species in a short-rotation irrigated plantation 39 in semi-arid Burkina Faso. The former measure is simpler and non-destructive.

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