**4. Cultivation of** *C. sanguinolenta***: Developing cultivation protocols (cropping cycle) and predicting suitable areas in Ghana for cultivation**

In Ghana, *C. sanguinolenta* is adaptable in geographical areas with optimum rainfall such as the Akwapim and Aburi mountains [7]. It also thrives well in areas with a good supply of sunlight and water [4]. Wild harvesting for the treatment of malaria for decades has hugely contributed to the rapid decline in *C. sanguinolenta* populations and supply of this medicinal plant. This prompted the development of cultivation protocols including a cropping cycle for the species [9] as a conservation strategy to ensure sustainable supply.

To predict suitable cultivation areas for *C. sanguinolenta* in Ghana, GPS coordinates collected over an 8-year period from locations of wild germplasm across the different natural habitats were used. Additional data sources included; daily rainfall data

**Figure 5.** *Soil suitability map for* C. sanguinolenta*.*

from 33 meteorological stations in Ghana, temperature data from climate-data.org and soil data from the EUROPEAN SOIL DATA CENTRE (ESDAC). Using the ArcGIS (version 10.6) Geo spatial software, the geographic data were analyzed by loading a layer of the map of Ghana open street map (OSM standard) and a digital elevation model (DEM). The GPS coordinates were superimposed on the map of Ghana. Based on 194 GPS records and 3 selected environmental variables (rainfall, temperature and soil classification), the suitable areas for the cultivation of *C. sanguinolenta* were predicted using spatial analyses in ArcGIS. The analysis identified Haplic Alisols (ALha), Lithic Leptosols (LPli) and Haplic Lixisols (LXha) as suitable soil classes for the cultivation of *C. sanguinolenta* (**Figure 5**).

These soil classes were found in the Ashanti, Bono, Eastern and Volta regions of the country. The suitable average temperature from collection areas which is optimum for the cultivation of *C. sanguinolenta* ranges between 27 and 31°C (**Figure 6**).

The analysis identified the mean annual rainfall 1100-1550 mm as a suitable rainfall amount for the optimum cultivation of *C. sanguinolenta* (**Figure 7**).

It was reported from the analysis that the predicted production areas suitable for the cultivation of *C. sanguinolenta* in Ghana had the following combined characteristics; clayey, acidic and shallow soils, temperature ranges of 27-31°C and mean annual rainfall of 1100–1550 mm.

Hence, fields for the domestication and cultivation of *C. sanguinolenta* can be established at these predicted suitable areas in the Ashanti, Bono, Eastern and Volta regions of Ghana for its production (**Figure 8**).

These predictable areas coupled with suitable conservation methods will ensure sustainable production of *C. sanguinolenta* thus ensuring its availability for long term use.

#### **Figure 6.**

*Average maximum annual temperature for Ghana showing optimum temperature ranges suitable for the cultivation of* C. sanguinolenta*.*

#### **Figure 7.**

*Average annual rainfall distribution for Ghana showing optimum rainfall ranges suitable for the cultivation of*  C. sanguinolenta*.*

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.108249 Conservation and Sustainable Use of C*ryptolepis sanguinolenta

**Figure 8.** *Production areas for the cultivation of* C. sanguinolenta *in Ghana.*
