Woody Species Physiological Responses to Water Stress along Climatic Gradient in Burkina Faso

Drought had been increased for some decades in Burkina Faso, resulting in a reduction of ecosystems and risk to decrease provision of basic needs for vulnerable people. Different Plantation implemented these recent years had low rates of success due to lack of scientific knowledge relating to local woody species. This research was carried out to assess physiological responses along gradient of increasing aridity from south to north. Specifically, this study was to evaluate influence of climatic gradient on water potential, water content and relative water content of four woody species (Balanites aegyptiaca, Pterocarpus erinaceus, Parkia biglobosa and Vitellaria paradoxa). It appeared that climatic gradient significantly influenced differently plants water status. Water potential diurnal ranges of studied woody species were highly significant in all the sites. That means that they could cope in sites with large variation of drought. So, they could be considered in reforestation activities in the context of climate change. However, results had also shown that physiological parameters were influenced by toposequence, plants morphology and microclimate in which species could benefit in environments with unfavorable water conditions, therefore, further studies are needed before making rough recommendations.