Agroforestry Services: Crop shade  Agroforestry Services: Living trellis  Agroforestry Services: Nitrogen  Industrial Crop: Biomass  Management: Coppice  Management: Standard  Regional Crop

A plant of higher elevations in the tropics, where it is generally found at elevations from 1,000 - 3,700 metres[418 ]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 15 - 28c, though it can tolerate 4 - 34c[418 ]. Plants can withstand temperatures that dip briefly below 0c[418 ]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,500 - 2,500mm, tolerating 1,000 - 3,500mm[418 ]. It is usually found in areas with a distinct dry season of 3 - 5 months[325 ]. Grows best in a sunny position, but can tolerate some shade[381 , 418 ]. Prefers deep, well-drained soils with high content of organic matter[303 ]. Succeeds in shallow soils[303 , 381 ]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 4.5 - 7[418 ]. A fast-growing tree, it can reach a height of 25 metres in 10 years[418 ]. Plants can commence flowering when just 4 - 5 years old from seed[303 ]. Plants reproduce freely on exposed bare-soil surfaces[418 ]. Trees respond well to coppicing[338 ]. Grown in rotations of about 20 years, the optimum annual yield of wood for fuel and industrial use is 10 - 15 cubic metres per hectare[381 , 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 ]. In garden design, as well as the above-ground architecture of a plant, root structure considerations help in choosing plants that work together for their optimal soil requirements including nutrients and water. The root pattern is branching: a heart root, dividing from the crown into several primary roots going down and out [2-1].

Carbon Farming

• Agroforestry Services: Crop shade  Plants providing crop shade especially trees.
• Agroforestry Services: Living trellis  Plants to physically support other crops.
• Agroforestry Services: Nitrogen  Plants that contribute to nitrogen fixation include the legume family – Fabaceae.
• Industrial Crop: Biomass  Three broad categories: bamboos, resprouting woody plants, and giant grasses. uses include: protein, materials (paper, building materials, fibers, biochar etc.), chemicals (biobased chemicals), energy - biofuels
• 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.
• Regional Crop  These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.