ESTIMATION OF SHEA TREES (Vitellaria paradoxa C.F. GAERTN.) FRUIT PRODUCTION BY ASSESSING THE CORRELATION BETWEEN YIELD PARAMETERS AND DENDROMETRIC FEATURES IN NORTHERN OF CÔTE D'IVOIRE

Vitellaria paradoxa, commonly known as the shea tree, is a tree of family Sapotaceae and represents traditional African food plant. It has been claimed to have potential improve nutrition, boost supply, foster rural development, support sustainable land care. Despite its multiple potentials, statistical data relating production are non-existent and/or unexploited in several communities. To contrast this tendency, present study aims assess intra-seasonal variation fruit sample 115 trees then establish correlation between yield parameters dendrometric features. Dendrometric (i.e. height, trunk girth, crown basal area) pomological nut length width) parameters, well by monitoring daily fallen from each sampled carried out for five years consecutively, were considered study. The results showed inter-year fluctuation fruit/nut number weight. In addition, significant increase annual average per girth area interval class, randomly generated Sturge Yule's formula. Interestingly, potentially high producing emerged within class. Then, observed intraclass determining can be exploited selecting elite trees.