Leaf area determination of shea butter tree (Vitellaria paradoxa C.F. Gaertn.)

. Linear dimensions (length and width) and adaxial area of shea butter leaves obtained from 13 month old seedlings were measured. Correlation analysis revealed highly significant (P < 0.01) positive relationship between leaf area (LA), leaf length (L), leaf width (W) and the product of the leaf length and width (LW). By means of regression analysis, the following model was developed to estimate the adaxial leaf area: LA = 4.41+1.14LW (P < 0.001; r2 = 95.2%), where LA is adaxial leaf area (cm2) and LW is the product of the linear measurement of the leaf length and width. This method of leaf area estimation is simple, cheap and could enable repeated in-situ measurements of leaf area of the plant since it is non-destructive.