First results of a planting trial of Balanites aegyptiaca in Adrar and prospects for its domestication in southwestern Algeria.

The paper reports tests in the Adrar region of the promising woody species, Balanites aegyptiaca, in 2014. The species behaviour at different development stages (nursery, juvenile stage and adult stage) was monitored and evaluated. The evaluation took the criteria into account. The obtained results showed a significant correlation between the number of leaves and growth in height; showing that direct seeding is the most appropriate planting technique. Dendrometric parameters are positively related, resulting in a slenderness factor of 60% with a yield of 799.9 ± 481 fruits per tree. These preliminary results suggest that the work should be replicated, with a view to domesticating the species in southern Algeria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]