researcharticle

ScienceLetters,Vol.3,No.2,July2001

RESEARCHARTICLE

SOCIAL CHARACTERISATION AND EXPLOITATION OF CAROB TREE (CERATONIASIL/QUA L.) FROM MOKRISSET AND BAB TAZA (NW OF MOROCCO) Naoual Gharnitt, Noureddine El MtiU2,Ahmed Toubi Ennabili3, Abdeslam EnnabUf' IAssociation de Développement dans l'Environnement Montagneux (ADEM), B.P.214Chefchaouen91 000 Morocco; Phone: + 21239996748, e-mail: aennabil{li).hotmai1.com 2Laboratoirede Génétique et Biotechnologies Végétales, Faculté des Sciences, Oujda-Morocco. 3CoopérativeEnnaçr, Commune rurale Aïn Baïda, Cercle de Mokrisset, Province de Chefchaouen-Morocco.

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Correspondingauthor.

Abstract African population is very dependent on wild and domesticated plant resources. ln 1997 and 1998, a prospectingof 45 representative sites of Mokrisset and Bab Taza Circles (NW of Morocco) was carried out and 13 forms corresponding to 4 local varieties of carob species (Ceratonia siliqua L.) were identified. The carob trees density was valued at 15:1:45trees.ha.l. Hs growth rate was estimated at 0.61:!:0.26m. year"l. The carobs production begins in 2 to 6 years-trees for the grafted types and 3 to 12 years-trees for the ungrafted types. The carobs yield is widely variable and reaches 385:i:438kg.tree.l.yea(l. According to the identified varieties, seeds constitute 13 to 25 % of carobs weight. The economical income has heen valued at 3,840:1:4,987dirhams.exploitanr1.yea('. Other aspects related with culture, grafting and local utilization of this species were commented. Key words: Mokrisset and Bab Taza (NW of Morocco), Ceratonia siliqua L., form, variety.

Résumé Caractérisationsociale et exploitationdu caroubier (Ceratoniasiliqua 1.) à Mokrissetet Bab Taza (Nord-ouestduMaroc). Lesressourcesvégétalestantdomestiquéesquesauvagesjouentun rôle importantdans la vie courante de la population africaine. En 1997 et 1998, une prospection d'une série de stations représentatives de Mokrisset et de Bab Taza (Nord-ouest du Maroc) nous a permis d'identifier 13 formes de caroubier (Ceratonia siliqua L.) correspondant à 4 variétés locales. Au sein des vergers, la densité du caroubier est estimée à 15:1:45arbres ha'l. La production des caroubes commence à l'âge de 2 à 6 ans en cas des types greffés et de 3 à 12 ans pour lestypes non greffés. Le rendement en gousses par arbre est très variable et atteint 385:1:438kg.arbre.l.an.l. Les graines constituent 13 à 25 % du poids des caroubes selon la variété en question. Le revenu brut annuel est évalué à 3,840:i:4,987dirhams.exploitanfl.an-l. D'autres aspects relevant de la culture en particulier de la plantation, du greffage et de l'utilisation locale de cette espèce ont été commentés.

Mots clés:

Mokrisset et Bab Taza (Nord-ouest du

http://www. mars-net. org/science-letters

Maroc),

Ceratonia siliqua

L., forme, variété.

ISSN 1529-7276

Introduction The carob species (Ceratonia siliqua L., Cesa/pinoïdae, Leguminosae), denominated in Morocco Kharroub, Slaghoua or Tikida, is a tree or shrub up to 15 m in height (Emberger, 1938; Quezel and Santa, 1962/63;Tutin et al., 1990/93). It is a monoecious or dioecious species with homo- or heterosexual flowers (Metro and Sauvage, 1955). It is natural of the Mediterranean region (oleo-ceratonion) and grows in the floristic stages of Tetraclinis articulata, Juniperus phoenicea and partly Argania spinosa. ln Morocco with the exception of arid zones, Ceratonia siliqua is present up to 1150 m in altitude (Emberger and Maire, 1941; Metro and Sauvage, 1955; Quezel and Santa, 1962/63; Guinochet and Vilmorin, 1984). This species is advisable for stony and chalky soils forestation in dry climates of the Mediterranean region (Magini and Tulstrup, 1955). ln Morocco, two pioneer industrial units of carobs were created recently in Essaouira and Fes (Ouchkif, 1988a). The Moroccan carobs production has reached 19,248 and 24,000 tons in 1981 and 1986 respectively. At present, it is rangin§ between 45,000 and 50,000 tons.year(Ouchkif, 1988b; in Zouhair, 1996). The export of carob products got at 20,131 tons of pulp and 4,360 tons of seeds in 1983 (Ouchkif 1988a).Owing to the economical interest, in vitro multiplication trials of this species were planed (e.g. Daaloul, Aouine and Sakka, 1991; Gharnit, 1997). ln fact, carob tree is considered among the fruits and forests trees the most important since aIl its parts (leaves, flowers, fruits, wood, bark and roots) are useful in several fields (Aafi,1996). ln the Circles of Mokrisset and Bab Taza (Chefchaouen, NW of Morocco), the economy of subsistence dominates and depends on agriculture (Khrouz, 1991). The aims of the present survey are to

define natural and domesticated types of carob species and to assess its socioeconomic interest in this study area. Survey are a The Circles of Mokrisset and Bab Taza are situated in NW of Morocco (5°10'-5°35' W 34°47'-35°11' N) and display 2,272 km2 (figure 1). According to ADL (1997), the survey area is included in sub-humid to humid stages and the annual precipitation reach 1,300 mm. Agricultural usefui surface (AUS) constitutes 29.4 to 34.1 % of the total surface of these two Circles. The study area population is about 160,000inhabitants, Le.an average density of 70 inhabitants.km-2and the average size of household is equal to 6 persons. ln Chefchaouen, the chief town of the study area, 81 % of the active population are working in agriculture sector (vs. 40.7 % for national active population; ADL, 1997; LAD, 1998). Data collection ln summer of 1997 and 1998, campaigns of data collection were undertaken in souks (weekly markets) and in the main douars (villages) and Communes of Mokrisset and Bab Taza Circles. The local names defining the types of carob species were retained. The trade importance of carobs was valued by using unit priee, commercialised rate, mercantile network, etc. The utilisation of carob tree parts (leaves, wood, fruit, roots and bark) was inventoried. We have studied also the main culture criteria of this species including density, grafting, carobs yield, etc.

Due to eminent interest of MokrissetCircle when comparedto Bab Taza Circle in terms of the carob-culture, pods productionwas measuredin 30 trees representing 30 fields from Aïn Baïda Commune of Mokrisset Circle.

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