Influence of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh on the growth, productivity and physiology of three associated crops in the Sudano-Sahelian zone of Burkina Faso, West Africa

Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh is an exotic species found in Sahel agroecosystems, often growing alongside annual crops. However, there is limited documentation regarding its ecological impacts on these crops. This study aims to assess the influence of eucalyptus on crop physiological traits and yield. To accomplish this, on-farm experiments were conducted over two years (2022 and 2023), employing a tree effect gradient called a gradient-based design with 4–7 replications for cowpea, millet, and sorghum. The experimental design included three plot locations based on their proximity to the eucalyptus trunk: one directly under the crown, another centred at 11 m, and a control plot situated 22 m away. Various parameters, such as height, relative chlorophyll content, leaf area index, photosynthetically active radiation, and yields of grain straw, were measured across all plots and years. Results from pairwise tests indicated significant differences among the plots for most parameters studied. Notably, plant height significantly decreased in proximity to eucalyptus (p 

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DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-025-01247-z

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