Typology, Floristic Diversity, and Regeneration Dynamics of Agroforestry Systems in the Sudano-Sahelian Zone of Koulikoro, Mali: insight from IPR/IFRA of Katibougou area

Diversité ligneuse des systèmes agroforestiers au Mali

Abstract

Sustainable agricultural practices within an agroecosystem can only be implemented when the environment is well understood. The objective of this study was to identify and characterize the agroforestry systems within the domain of the Institut Polytechnique Rural de Formation et de Recherche Appliquée (IPR/IFRA) of Katibougou, Mali. Systematic sampling using a 250 m x 250 m grid was employed. Data collection was based on floristic and dendrometric inventories conducted in 50 circular plots of 2826 m² each (r = 30 m). The results showed that the agrosilvopastoral system is the most dominant in the study area. Floristic richness comprises 24 species distributed across 22 genera and 13 families. The most dominant families were Anacardiaceae (75 %) and Fabaceae (68 %). The most dominant species are Mangifera indica L. (88 %), Vitellaria paradoxa CF Gaertn., and Azadirachta indica A. Juss. The majority of the recorded species (79%) were classified as Least Concern (LC) according to IUCN. The agrosilvopastoral and agrosilvicultural systems were the most diverse, each with a Shannon diversity index of H’ = 3. Regeneration rates varied from 38% in the silvopastoral system to 193% in the agrosilvopastoral system. The differences observed among the systems, particularly in terms of species dominance and regeneration rates, highlight the need for management strategies tailored to each type of systems. Protecting seed trees is essential to ensure natural regeneration and to maintain floristic diversity, which is a prerequisite for the long-term sustainability of the goods and services provided by these agroforestry systems.