A self-fertilizing tree is a tree whose activity enriches the topsoil. It improves the texture and promotes structuring of the soil. To perform its function effectively, it must be ‘friendly’, that means that it can not compete strongly with the species cultivated for their domestic or commercial production “(Dupriez-de Leener, 1993).


Self-fertilizing trees are mainly from the legume family and more specifically from the subfamily of Mimosacaea.
They must be from a seedling that can form a single taproot capable of rising to the depths of the soil (from 10 to 30 m deep) the minerals (N, P, K …) and water necessary for the enrichment of the topsoil. Another advantage is that nitrogen-fixing bacteria (rhizobium) and fungi (mycorrhizae), which attract phosphorus, potash and other minerals, live in symbiosis with these trees.

Source: APAF

The Sentiou Maka vegetable garden in Bala, Senegal

Sentiou Maka is one of the community vegetable gardens set up on the outskirts of Bala. The solar pump has allowed good irrigation of the garden and within three months, it has been fully cultivated. Thanks to the expertise of … Read More

A Nursery of Fertilising trees at the Bala garden, Sénégal

The Bala seed farm follows the principles of agro-forestry, where a fertiliser tree nursery has been set up.  The seedlings are prepared in plastic bags deep enough for the trees to develop strong downward roots. The seedlings are prepared in … Read More

The fertilizer tree of Yagma

Trees grow in Yagma’s garden! Fertilizing trees and fruit trees are growing and will soon bring shade to the garden!  

Preparing the soil for the plant nursery

One of the first steps in APAF’s agroforestry training in Southern Africa was to prepare the nursery for seed sowing. This required identifying local fertilizer trees similar to the seeds to be planted, in order to recover soil near the … Read More

Search for indigenous fertilizer trees, Piggs Peak – Swaziland

During the training given by APAF International, Pascal Humbert has been searching for fertilizer trees in the Piggs Peak region. He quickly identified the Leuceana. The Leuceana is a great asset in agroforestry: it fertilizes the soil that nourishes it, … Read More

First fertilizing tree seedlings – Yagma

The fertilizing trees are now ready to be transplanted onto the growing beds.

Fertilizer tree nursery

The compost was used and incorporated into the plots. The shaded hut and the trenches dugged for the compost will be used now as a nursery for the fertilizing trees. Plastic bags, filled with a mixture of soil and compost, … Read More

Planting Chaya – Ladysmith

Chaya is a plant of Central America similar to spinach. Chaya is easy to grow in temperate climate. It is tolerant to heavy rain and drought. Propagation can be done easily by cutting 20cm of the stems and planting them … Read More

Agroforestry by APAF in Burkina Faso

This film presents the action of APAF in agroforestry in Burkina Faso. APAF is a pioneer in agroforestry in West Africa, with knowledge of local fertilizer tree species helping to regenerate the soil, in association with organic market gardening, and … Read More