Influence of Acacia senegal agroforestry system on growth and yield of sorghum, sesame, roselle and gum in north Kordofan State, Sudan

We examined the effects of intercropping with Acacia senegal （L.） Willd on growth and yield of sorghum （Sorghum bicolor L.）, sesame （Sesamum indicum L.） and roselle （Hibiscus sabdariffa）. Field experiments were conducted in El-Obeid Research farm （13°10′ N; 30°12′ E）, North Kordofan State, Sudan, during 2002–2003 in an 11-year-old A. senegal plantation. The experimental design was randomized complete block design （RCBD） with four replications. Data were recorded for plant height （cm）, fresh weight （kg·ha-1）, dry weight （kg·ha-1）, crop yield （kg·ha-1）, and gum yield （kg·ha-1）. We used Land Equivalent Ratios （LER） and simple financial analyses of gross surpluses to evaluate the productivity and profitability of the different treatments. The results indicated that A. senegal trees had a beneficial effect on crop performance and yield as well as gum yield. Significant differences （p 〈 0.05） were obtained for plant height, fresh weight, dry weight and crop yield. Therefore, yield of sorghum, sesame and roselle under intercropping system were 13.7%, 23.8% and 20.9% higher than that obtained in the sole cropping system respectively. The highest yield increase was observed with sesame （23.8%）. Gum yield （g/tree/picking） was significantly （p 〈 0.05） increased for sorghum, sesame and roslle under intercropping system. The highest yield of （298 g/tree/picking） was obtained when roselle was intercropped with A. senegal, while the least gum yield of （239 gδtree-1） was recorded in pure A. senegal plot. All the treatments gave land equivalent ratio （LER） of more than one-indicating the superiority of growing the field crops in intercropping over the sole cropping systems. The highest LER of 3.8 was obtained for sesame intercropped with A. senegal （Hashab）, followed by 3.7, when sorghum was intercropped with A. senegal and 3.3 when roselle intercropped with A. senegal. All the treatments gave positive net revenues, the highest being for intercropped sorghum （558 SDG·ha-1） （SDG=Sudanese gienh）. The intercropping of roselle gave the second net revenue （518 SDG·ha-1）, while the sole sorghum gave the lowest net revenue （501 SDG·ha-1）.

Effect of grass density and date of tapping on Acacia senegal gum yield in north kordofan state, Sudan

We conducted a two-factor experiment in randomized complete block design with four replications during 2004 in El Demokeya Forest Reserve and El Himaira Natural Forest, North Kordofan State, Sudan. The objective was to develop an understanding of the ecological effects of under-story vegetation and tapping date on the productivity of gum arabic from Acacia senegal as over story cover. The first factor was grass cover which was tested in four levels （100% and 50% grass cover in addition to bare and burnt）. The second factor, date of tapping was tested in three levels namely （1st Oct, 15th Oct and 1st Nov）. The first picking was done after 45 days from tapping and the gum yield up to seven pickings was collected at intervals of 15 days. Gum yield from each picking was collected and weighed using sensitive balance. Analysis of variance was carried out using MSTAT-C statistical package, and the Tukey test was applied for mean comparisons. The results showed highly significant differences （p 〈 0.01） of grass cover on gum arabic yield in the two sites for most of the first consecutive pickings （1st–4th out of seven） in addition to total yield （kg/ha）. With exception to the 4th pickings, the interaction effect between the grass densities and tapping date was not significantly different. The total gum yield was significantly （p 〈 0.05） increased in only two pickings （third and fourth） in El Demokeya Forest Reserve and two pickings （1st and 2nd） at El Himaira Natural Forest. The density of grass cover significantly （p 〈 0.05） affected the number of pickings at both sites; the number of gum pickings was directly proportional to grass density. The number of gum pickings was found to be significantly （p 〈 0.05） increased at the early date of tapping.

Benefits of Gum Arabic, for a Solitary Kidney Under Adverse Conditions:A Case Study

Gum Arabic(GA,called E-414 in the EU food industry),a natural biopolymer resin is a dried exudation obtained from the stems and branches of natural strains of Acacia Senegal(L)Willdenow.It consists mainly of high molecular weight polysaccharides and their calcium,potassium,and magnesium,which on hydrolysis yield arabinose,galactose,rhamnose,and glucuronic acid.Fermentable natural fiber of gum Arabic act as probiotics improves the absorption of minerals,especially calcium and helps to maintain a healthy balance of bacteria in the gastrointestinal(GI)tract.Extraction,transformation,or reprocessing of nitrogenous wastes(ammonia,urea,and uric acid)by the GI tract is a potentially low-cost means of switching for missing renal function.Binding of nitrogen compounds to be inert orally by administration of gum Arabic is the safe solution either in normal renal function or renal failures.In this study,clinically,we observed a case of solitary kidney under adverse condition long‑term treating with gum Arabic the vast potential of bioactive phytochemicals as a nontoxic,efficient with uric acid and bilirubin lowering agent and anti‑inflammatory effects,considering the gum Arabic as a potential therapeutic supplement,beneficial in chronic renal failure,cardiovascular disease,pain management,and dental health.Despite the nonexistent background concerning the benefits of gum Arabic,for a solitary kidney under adverse conditions,our study has confirmed that long‑term consumption of gum Arabic not only has no side effect but also protects multi-organs damage from drug adverse reactions and consequences of baseline disease,including renal,vascular,dental and inflammatory diseases.