Agroforestry Services: Nitrogen  Agroforestry Services: Windbreak  Historic Staple  Management: Coppice  Management: Standard  New Crop  Other Systems: FMAFS  Staple Crop: Protein

A plant of the arid and semi-arid warm temperate to tropical areas of Australia, where it is found at elevations up to 750 metres[418 ]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 12 - 32°c, but can tolerate 5 - 38°c[418 ]. Mature plants can be killed by temperatures of -10°c or lower, though young growth is more sensitive and can be killed at -1°c[418 ]. The plant prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range of 300 - 800mm, but tolerates 100 - 1,000mm[418 ]. Grows best in a sunny position[418 ]. Succeeds in most soils, being able to tolerate occasional short-term inundation[418 ]. Tolerant of saline soils[1292 ]. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 7.5, tolerating 5 - 8.5[418 ]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[418 ]. The tree has the potential to become a weed when grown in moister climates outside its native range[418 ]. The plant is an ornamental species suited to growing in arid and semi-arid areas, yet adaptable to cooler moist climates[1297 ]. Acacia victoriae is an easily harvested species. The pods are held on the extremities of the branches and once fully mature, a gust of wind is sufficient to remove them. The pods may be shed unopened or may open on the plant with the seeds still attached by the funicle. Pods can be collected by manually shaking or gently beating the branches and collecting them on a groundsheet. The seeds separate from the pods with minimal mechanical processing. The plant bears uniformly heavy seed crops and is one of the few acacias whose seed can be collected from the ground[1297 ]. The plant responds very well to coppicing, and also produces suckers[418 , 1292 ]. Trees are fast-growing[1292 ], but relatively short-lived, with a probable lifespan of 10 - 15 years[418 ]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[200 ].

Carbon Farming

• Agroforestry Services: Nitrogen  Plants that contribute to nitrogen fixation include the legume family – Fabaceae.
• Agroforestry Services: Windbreak  Linear plantings of trees and shrubs designed to enhance crop production, protect people and livestock and benefit soil and water conservation.
• Historic Staple  These crops were once cultivated but have been abandoned. The reasons for abandonment may include colonization, genocide, market pressures, the arrival of superior crops from elsewhere, and so forth.
• Management: Coppice  Cut to the ground repeatedly - resprouting vigorously. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.
• Management: Standard  Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
• New Crop  Most new crops were important wild plants until recently, although some are the result of hybridization. They have been developed in the last few, decades. What they have in common is that they are currently cultivated by farmers. Examples include baobab, argan, and buffalo gourd.
• Other Systems: FMAFS  Farmer-Managed Agroforestry Farming Systems.
• Staple Crop: Protein  (16+ percent protein, 0-15 percent oil). Annuals include beans, chickpeas, lentils, cowpeas, and pigeon peas. Perennials include perennial beans, nuts, leaf protein concentrates, and edible milks.