Abstract

A nineteen-year-old plantation of Anogeissus leiocarpa in Zangasso forest was coppiced in order to study the sprouting and shoot growth according to cutting intensity and management mode. Two intensities of cutting (clear cutting and selective cutting) and two management modes (weeding and early fire) were experimented. Clear cutting was found better than selective cutting regarding the percentage of stump bearing shoots (97% versus 87%). The mean number of shoots per stump (12) was the same for the two cuttings. There was no significant interaction between cutting and management mode. The percentage of stump bearing shoot (97%) observed with early fire was slightly higher than that observed with weeding regarding (94%). The mean number of shoots per stump (11 and 12 stumps) was almost the same for the two management modes. For mean height and mean collar girth, clear cutting was better than selective cutting while no significant difference was observed between early fire and weeding. According to these results, coppicing artificial stand of A. leiocrapa is feasible. Either fire or weeding did not compromise the ability of sprouting and shoots growth. 

Key words: South sudanian zone, coppice, early fire, stump shoots, weeding.