DOI: 10.11648/j.ajpb.20261103.16 ISSN: 2578-8337

Tapping Practices, Tree Attributes, and Frankincense Yield in a Boswellia papyrifera Plantation in Jebel Elgarrie Natural Forest Reserve - Southeastern Sudan

Dafa-Alla Ahmed, Kamal Fadul, Hashim Abdelkarim
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We conducted this research in a 10-ha Boswellia papyrifera plantation established in 1972 in Jebel El Garrie Natural Forest Reserve (JENFR) in southeastern Sudan. We aimed at evaluating the tapping regime and assessing yield of Frankincense. We randomly distributed thirty-three circular sample plots (0.10 ha each) in which we measured diameter at breast height (DBH)(cm) and bole height (m) of trees. From within these plots, we randomly selected 87 trees to record tapping height (m) and quantify frankincense yield (g). In addition, we examined 165 tapping incisions made on 23 subset of randomly selected trees, measured their width, length, and depth, and calculated their frequency per tree, across DBH classes, and by tapping direction. We examined Pearson correlation between tree DBH and mean frankincense yield and assessed differences in mean numbers of tapping incisions among tapping directions using one?way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Results showed that DBH values of B. papyrifera ranged from 10 to 32cm, with a mean of 21.8(±6.5)cm, and bole height varied between 1.4 and 6.0m, averaging 3.0(±0.8)m. Mean tapping upper and lower heights were 1.7(±0.2m) and 0.6(± 0.2m), and the average untapped portion of the bole constituted 41.1% of the total bole height. Mean tapping intensity was 7.4(±2.8), with incision frequency increasing with DBH. Mean end-of season width, length and depth were 4.1(±1.4)cm, 3.4(±2.3)cm, and 3.5(±1.3)mm, respectively. Approximately 9.2% of all trees, including 1.1% of first?time tapped individuals, were tapped below the recommended tapping lower height of 0.5m, while only 49.1% of trees in the small DBH classes were tapped on the prescribed east and west orientations. The mean annual frankincense yield (g/tree/year) was 100.8(±70.7), increasing steadily with DBH and peaking at 130.8(±81.5)g in the 25–29.9 cm DBH class before declining in larger DBH classes. These findings underscore the need for stricter adherence to size?specific and direction?specific tapping guidelines to reduce physiological stress and improve long?term productivity of B. papyrifera populations.

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