Effects of region, soil, land use, and terrain type on fuelwood properties of five tree/shrub species in the Sahelian and Sudanian ecozones of Mali

• Context There is little information about inter- and intra-specific variation in fuelwood properties of trees/shrubs in West Africa. • Aims We studied variation in fuelwood properties of Balanites aegyptiaca , Combretum glutinosum , Guiera senegalensis , Piliostigma reticulatum , and Zizyphus mauritiana in the Sahelian and Sudanian ecozones of Mali. • Methods Trees were sampled on different soil (sandy, sandy/loam, or rocky), land use (parkland agroforest or woodland), and terrain (flat, temporarily flooded, or hill slope) types in five regions extending from the drier eastern to the more humid western parts of Mali. Basic density, volatile matter, fixed carbon, ash content, moisture content, gross calorific value, and fuel value index were measured for each tree and adjusted for tree age. • Results All fuelwood properties differed significantly among species, but there were significant species by region interactions. Most fuelwood properties of four species differed significantly among regions. Soil and/or land use type had significant effects on a few fuelwood properties of four species. • Conclusion In general, fuelwood production is recommended in all regions for G. senegalensis , in drier regions for B. aegyptiaca and C. glutinosum , in more humid regions for Z. mauritiana , and on rocky soils for all species. Fuelwood production of P. reticulatum is not recommended.