CAPABILITY MAPPING FOR THE CULTIVATION OF HIGH
VALUE TREE SPECIES IN THE COAST REGION OF KENYA
Mangifera indica
Family: Anacardiacea
Common local name: Mango; Muembe
Description
Mangifera indica (Mango) is a large evergreen tree to 20 m tall with a dark green, umbrella-shaped
crown. Trunk stout, 90 cm in diameter; bark brown, smoothish, with many thin fissures; thick, becoming
darker, rough and scaly or furrowed; branchlets rather stout, pale green and hairless. Inner bark light
brown and bitter.
Growing Conditions for Maximum productivity
The tree grows well in areas with altitude of 0-1200 m, mean annual temperature of 19-35 OC and
mean annual rainfall of 500-2500 mm. Grows well in deep well-drained soils with pH of 5.5 to 7.5. The
tree can tolerate drought and survives occasional flooding. It is grown in Malindi, Tana River, Kilifi, and
Kwale. The Coast has 325,845 ha classified as area of high
Propagation methods
The tree is mostly propagated through seeds. Large, fully developed stones should be sown under
shade. Grafting and budding is used for production of high quality fruit trees.
Silvicultural management Operations
Wider spacing used to allow for wider crown formation for enhanced fruit productivity and intercropping with crops. Pruning is necessary for more productive growth of mango seedlings by topping trees
when 1 m tall to give well-distributed branches.
Economic Value
Mango can yield 200 to 1200 fruits per tree annually for marketing locally and export.
Uses
The tree is mainly used for fruits but provides other services such as soil improvement, shelter and
shade due to large crown, charcoal, firewood, timber, herbal medicine and fodder.
Azadirachta indica A Juss
Family: Meliacea.
Common Name: Neem, Mwarobaini.
Description
It is a fast growing medium sized tree reaching a height of 20 m. It has a dense leafy usually rounded canopy,
ever green except in driest areas. Flowers are small, fragrant white and hanging in long graceful sprays.
Capable area for Azadirachta indica Cultivation
6,000,000
Propagation methods
It is propagated by seedlings, wilding, direct sowing at site and cuttings .Germination rate is 70-80%.fresh seeds
have the best germination.
Silvicultural operations
Fast growing after the first year, lopping, pollarding and pruning .It thin out seedling if too dense.
Uses
It is highly valued at the Kenyan coast for its medicinal uses .It is the plant of choice in the dry lowland afforestation .It also provides excellent shade. The tree provide good timber and also used in carving industry.
5,000,000
Acrera ge (Ha)
Growth condition for maximum production
Tree well known in its native land and now naturalized in the tropics; where it is also widely planted .it is very
drought resistant and does well in poor soils .The roots grow deep and wide and does not withstand water logging. For a long time it has been grown in the Coast and widely naturalized and its now common in homestead in
town alleys and avenues in northern and eastern lowlands .It grows between 0 to 1500m altitude .Its average
growth rainfall is 400-1200mm. It is common in Kilifi, Malindi and Mombasa. The Coast has … ha classified as area
of high capability (Table 3.3).
4,000,000
3,000,000
2,000,000
1,000,000
0
High
Capabil
ity
Mediu
m
Capabil
ity
Low
Capabil
ity
Not
Capabl
e
Total Capable Acreage (Ha)
645,340
917,442
1,494,165
4,991,150
Capable acreage Excluding
Conservation Areas (Ha)
632,297
811,221
1,238,639
3,805,942
Casuarina equisetifolia JR and G. Forster
Family: Casuarinaceae
Common local name: Mkasorina, Mvinje
Description
It is an evergreen tree attaining a maximum height of 30m with ‘weeping’ foliage. The bark is greyblack and cracks with age. The leaves are minute scales just visible on the green branchlets. Fruits
are woody-cones occurring in clusters, young cones are green while mature ones are prickly brown.
Growth conditions for maximum productivity
Casuarina tree grows best in well drained fertile sandy soils; it tolerates saline conditions and in areas that receives an annual rainfall of 800-1500 mm. Casuarina does well in an altitude of between 01100 m above sea level. The tree is common along the Coast where it has been naturalized with
371,982 ha classified as area of high capability
Propagation methods
The tree is propagated through seeds. It is a prolific seeder with an average of 600,000-900,000
seeds per kg. Pre-treatment of seeds is not necessary. It can also be propagated through wildings.
Silvicultural operations
Casuarina is fast growing attaining an average height of 2.5-3.0 m annually. Pruning should be done
in the first year for accessibility and maximum growth. This also allows for intercropping during the
first two years before the canopy closes.
Economic value
It is the main widely grown on-farm commercial tree species by farmers in the Coastal region. It can be harvested after 5-7 years. One acre of Casuarina woodlot will
earn on average Ksh.750, 000-900,000 over a period of 3 years at a spacing of 2.0 x 2.0 m.
Uses
Casuarina is mainly used for poles. It is also used for firewood, charcoal, furniture and rehabilitation of degraded areas such as coral/limestone mines and sand dune
stabilization.
Capable area for Casuarina equisetifolia Cultivation
6, 000,000
5, 000,000
4, 000,000
)
a
H
( 3, 000,000
eg
ae
rc 2, 000,000
A
1, 000,000
0
High
Capability
Medium
Capability
Low
Capability
Not
Capable
Total Capable Acreage (Ha)
371,982
813,659
1,563,056
5,299,400
Capable area excluding
Conservation Areas (Ha)
367,916
770,294
1,290,873
4,052,330
Senna siamea (Lamarck) Irwin &Barneby
Family: Fabaceae
Common namesMrabai (Mijikenda)
Description
It is an evergreen tree attaining a maximum height of 20m with a smooth pale-grey brown bark.
Leaves are compound dark, shiny green above. Pods are in dense cluster. It has been naturalized in Kenya.
Growth conditions for maximum productivity
Grows all over tropics, sub-humid to semi-arid even arid zone preferring high water table but
tolerates drought. It is common at the Coast and can grow up to 1800m and rainfall of 500-2800
mm per annum. It performs well in deep well drained fertile soils and it is intolerant to saline
conditions. It does well in Mokowe, Mpeketoni, Hindi, Garsen, Kilifi, Mombasa, Kwale, Mazeras
and Taru area. The Coast has … ha classified as area of high capability
Propagation method
It is mainly established through seeds. It can also be propagated through wildlings and coppices.
Seed pretreatment is recommended (pour hot water on the seeds, allow to cool then soak for
24 hours), fresh seeds require no pre-treatment.
Silvicultural operation
It is usually planted along boundaries and a few woodlots with recommended spacing of 3.0x3.0m. The operations did include lopping, coppicing and pruning for compatibility with crops.
Economic value
One acre of Senna at a rotation age of 8 years generates income of Ksh. 75, 000 for charcoal (assuming 2 trees will make one 90 kg sack of charcoal sold at Ksh. 600 per
sack).
Uses
The tree is mainly used for firewood. It is also used for charcoal, timber, ornamental, grazing and soil conservation. It is poisonous to pigs.
Capable area for cultivation of Senna siamea
5,000,000
4,500,000
4,000,000
3,500,000
)a
H
(
e
ga
re
c
A
3,000,000
2,500,000
2,000,000
1,500,000
1,000,000
500,000
0
Hig h
Capabi
lity
Mediu
m
Capabi
lity
Low
Capabi
lity
Not
Capabl
e
Total Capable Acreage (Ha)
586,816
1,428,029
1,390,465
4,642,787
Capable acreage Excluding
Conservation Areas (Ha)
559,630
1,313,916
1,243,597
336,577
Gmelina arborea
Family: Verbenaceae
Common names: M’arborea (Mijikenda), Gmelina, Melina, Melina, Arborea (Swahili)
Description
Gmelina is a deciduous tree that attains a height of 30 m with a diameter of approximately 80 cm; it grows
with a clear bole of 6 to 9 m, often crooked trunk with low branches and fairly open crown. Its bark is
smooth, pale ashy-grey or grey to yellow with black patches and conspicuous corky circular lenticels.
Capable area for cultivation of Gmelina Arborea
6,000,000
Growth conditions for maximum productivity
Gmelina grows within the altitude of 0-1,400 m, and annual rainfall of 750 – 1,800 mm. It does well in fertile, well-drained loam soils with 342,754 ha classified as area of high capability
Silvicultural operations and management
Gmelina is both plantation and an agroforestry species. A pure stands at a spacing of 4.0x4.0m or with crops at a spacing of 8.0x8.0m. Mature trees are
harvested for timber after 20-25 years depending on espacement, local soils and climate. Pruning is done by removing axillary buds to a height of 4 m or
higher because it has heavy branching habit. Trees coppice well after cutting.
Economic value
A mature tree harvested at age of 20 years is estimated to give a total value of Kshs. 10,000 from timber and firewood combined (i.e. Kshs.1, 600, 000/
acre with 160 mature trees (63%)).
Uses
Gmelina is used for timber. Other uses include pulp, fodder, particle board, dye, bee forage.
Acreage (Ha)
Propagation methods
The tree is established mainly from seeds. Fruits are collected from the ground soon after falling or aided fruit fall by light shaking trees with mature
fruits. Seeds are soaked in water for 12 hours and germinate after incubation for 14 – 20 days. There are 1400 dry seeds/kg.
5,000,000
4,000,000
3,000,000
2,000,000
1,000,000
0
High
Capability
Medium
Capability
Low
Capability
Not Capable
Total Capable Acreage (Ha)
342,754
770,787
1,798,074
5,136,482
Capable acreage Excluding
Conservation Areas (Ha)
342,071
713,496
1,544,346
3,882,405
Tamarindus indica L
Family: Fabaceae
Tamarind (Eng), Mkwaju (Swahili), (Borana), Chwa (Luo), Muthithi (Meru)
Description
Tamarind is a slow-growing large evergreen tree up to 30 m tall, bole usually 1-2 m, up to 2 m
diameter; crown dense, widely spreading, rounded; bark rough, fissured, and greyish-brown.
Leaves alternate, compound, with 10-18 pairs of opposite leaflets.
Propagation methods
Tamarind is propagated by seed and vegetatively. Seeds can be scarified or briefly boiled to
enhance germination. They retain germination capability after several months if kept dry.
5,000,000
4,500,000
4,000,000
Acreage (Ha)
Ecological Requirements
Tamarind tolerates a wide range of soil and climatic conditions, and occur in low-altitude
woodland, savannah, bushes and along stream and riverbanks in areas with evenly distributed mean annual rainfall of 500 - 1500 mm, no specific soil requirement, temperatures between 9.5 – 37 0C, and is light demanding tree. Tamarind grows from altitudes of 0-2000 m.
The Coast has … ha classified as area of high capability
Capable areas for cultivation of Tamarindus Indica
3,500,000
3,000,000
2,500,000
2,000,000
1,500,000
1,000,000
Silvi-cultural operations
Tamarind can be established in a pure plantation spaced at least 13 x 13 m. The tree may remain productive until it reaches old age, yielding up to 150 kg/
tree or over 2 t/ha a year. Minimal care required but in orchards intensive cropping and pruning can be practised.
Economic value
Vegetatively propagated Tamarind start fruiting from the fourth year and have a pod yield of 40 kg/tree giving a gross return of Ksh. 400/tree/year. When
the trees reach maximum bearing at 10 years, a yield of about 100 kg/tree could be harvested with gross return of Ksh. 1000/tree/year
Uses
Tamarind has many uses including edible fruit, timber, leaves, medicine, metal polishes, furniture making, floor tiles and shade. The tamarind tree produces edible, pod-like fruit which are used extensively in cuisines around the world.
500,000
0
High
Capability
Medium
Capability
Low
Capability
Not
Capable
Total Capable Acreage (Ha)
463,455
1,415,361
1,500,793
4,668,488
Capable acreage Excluding
Conservation Areas (Ha)
430,984
1,214,457
1,267,953
3,384,011
Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh.
Family: Myrtaceae
Common local name: Mgamu
Description
It is an evergreen tree attaining a height of 30m. It is deeply branched with a crocked stem. The
bark is white to brown, thin and peeling in long strips. The leaves are grey-blue, long and
drooping.
Capable areas for cultivation of Eucalyptus Camaldulensis
4,500,000
Propagation methods
The tree is propagated through seeds with no pretreatment. 1 kg has about 2,100,000 seeds.
Silvicultural operations
Spacing varies with purpose of plantation. For pulpwood, 3.0x2.0m is used and closer spacing for fuelwood or poles. Weeding is done until the tree is 6
months old. It has good coppicing ability and can be expected to produce at least 3 coppice rotations after the initial seedling rotation. The tree is selfpruning but initial pruning may be necessary.
Economic value
First harvest at rotational age of 10 years produces poles worth Kshs. 214,500 at a price of Kshs. 250 per pole and one tree produces 3 poles of 3m.
Uses
The tree is mainly used for fuel wood and fencing poles. It is also used for timber when grown with wider spacing and bee forage.
4,000,000
3,500,000
3,000,000
Acreage (Ha)
Growth conditions for maximum productivity
It grows well in Coast region in deep silty or clay soil; it tolerates salinity, waterlogging and
periodic flooding, acidic soils and drought. The tree grows in areas that receive 250 –
2500mm per year and at altitude of 0-1600m. Due to concerns of its negative impacts on
water sources and vegetation, care should be exercised in site selection to minimize the
effects. The Coast has … ha classified as area of high capability
2,500,000
2,000,000
1,500,000
1,000,000
500,000
0
High Capability
Medium
Capability
Low Capability
Not Capable
Total Capable Acreage (Ha)
275,135
1,414,600
4,113,791
2,244,571
Capable acreage Excluding
Conservation Areas (Ha)
253,105
1,290,057
3,357,701
1,585,643
Melia volkensii Guerke
Family: Meliaceae
Local name: Mpenda bure, kirumbutu, Mukau,
Description
It is a deciduous, open crowned and laxly branched tree. Mature trees range from 6-20m tall in height. The
bark is grey, fairly smooth and furrowing with age. The leaves are a light, bright green, pinnate with sub opposite leaflets and are densely hairy when young. The fruits are drupe-like and oval are pale grey when mature.
This species allows intercropping for the first 2 years and requires total cultivation.
Capable areas for cultivation of Melia Volkensii
6,000,000
Growth conditions for maximum productivity
The tree prefers sandy clay and shallow stony soils with good drainage, annual rainfall of 300-1200mm and
altitude of 3 -1700 m above sea level. Coast has ….. ha classified as area of high capability (Table 3.9).
4,000,000
Acreage (Ha )
Propagation methods
The tree is mainly propagated through seeds. It can also be propagated through wildings, root cuttings and
stem cuttings. An elaborate pre-treatment process is required for maximum germination: 1. de-pulp collected
fruits; 2. wash nuts and dry them under shade for a day; 3. extract seeds from the nuts using either nut cracker or sharp object; 4. carefully cut the sharp end of seed coat using razor blade; 5.seed soaking for 24 hours in
cold water; 6. slitting the seed coat longitudinally; 7 sow under humid conditions.
5,000,000
3,000,000
2,000,000
1,000,000
0
Silvicultural operations
Pruning involving removal of auxiliary buds is initiated soon after planting to reduce development of heavy
lateral branching. When intercropped with crops, canopy thinning may be necessary. A spacing of 4.0x4.0m is
optimal but for drier areas, a wider spacing is recommended
Economic value
A mature tree cut at age of 12 to 15 years is estimated to give Kshs. 12,000 from timber and firewood combined (i.e. Kshs.1, 944, 000/acre with 250 mature
trees at a spacing of 4.0x4.0m.
Uses
The tree has a highly valuable timber whose timber compares well with Camphor and is close grained, termite resistant and used for making furniture, window/
door frames, rafters and poles.
High Capability
Medium
Capability
Low Capability
Not Capable
Total Capable Acreage (Ha)
864,282
668,682
1,704,653
4,785,394
Capable acreage Excluding
Conservation Areas (Ha)
840,723
572,713
1,539,749
3,499,770