Variation in fuelwood properties and correlations of fuelwood properties with wood density and growth in five tree and shrub species in Niger

Abstract

Information about variation and correlations of fuelwood properties and growth is needed in order to recommend species and sites for fuelwood production in a changing climate in Africa. We investigated the effects of site variables (land use, soil, terrain), geographical coordinates, and mean annual rainfall on fuelwood properties (volatile matter, fixed carbon, ash content, moisture content, gross calorific value, gross calorific value per cubic metre, and fuel value index) of Combretum glutinosum Perr., Combretum micranthum G. Don., Combretum nigricans Lepr. ex Guill. & Perr., Guiera senegalensis J.F. Gmel., and Piliostigma reticulatum (DC.) Hochst. and correlations of fuelwood properties with wood density and growth (height, stem diameter, and ring width) in Niger. We hypothesized that wood density, fixed carbon, and gross calorific value were positively correlated with one another and that fixed carbon and gross calorific value were positively correlated with growth. Most effects of site variables, geographical coordinates, and mean annual rainfall on fuelwood properties differed among species. Fuel value index was greater on rocky soils than on sandy soils. Wood moisture content of three species was greater in drier locations than in more humid ones. Correlations of fuelwood properties with wood density and growth differed among species. Based on this and previous research, we recommend parkland agroforests and sites with rocky soils and higher mean annual rainfall for fuelwood production.

Fire alters the availability of soil nutrients and accelerates growth of Eucalyptus grandis in Zambia

“…However, in hardwood plantations, including Eucalyptus spp., the effect of increased growth rate is still unclear (Saranpää 2003;Carrillo et al 2015;Ko et al 2017). In this study, slow growing trees on unburned sites had higher density than faster growing trees on burned sites, consistent with reports by King et al (2006), Sotelo Montes et al (2017, and Pretzsch et al (2018). However, other studies did not find a relationship between rate of growth and wood density in Eucalyptus (Quilhó and Pereira 2001;Saranpää 2003).…”

Technological performance and effects of traditional grilling on the physicochemical characteristics and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contamination of kilichi , a grilled meat produced in Niger

“…Indeed, the CAC/ RCP 68-2009 (2009) reported that the combustion of wood with lower moisture content is rapid and leads to high PAHs production. Sotelo et al (2017) and Sotelo et al (2012)…”