Management: Standard  New Crop  Staple Crop: Oil

A plant of very arid areas, mainly in the subtropical areas of northwest Africa, but just entering the tropics in Mauritania, where it is found at elevations up to 1,500 metres [ 418 ]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range of 20° - 30°c, but can tolerate 10° - 35°c[ 418 ]. Mature plants can be killed by temperatures of -2°c or lower, but new growth is severely damaged at 0°c[ 418 ]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range of 200 - 300mm, but tolerates 100 - 400mm[ 418 ]. Requires a sunny position[ 418 ]. Succeeds in a wide range of soils, including very poor, dry soils[ 418 ]. The tree is well suited to calcareous soils, sandy deposits and relatively poor semi-desert soils conditions but not drifting sands or water-logged soils[ 303 ]. Prefers a pH in the range 6.5 - 7.5, tolerating 6 - 8[ 418 ]. Established plants are very drought tolerant - they can shed their foliage and remain in a state of dormancy for several years during prolonged droughts[ 418 ]. Trees may start to bear when 5 - 6 years old from seed, and reach maximum production at the age of 60 years[ 418 ]. The average fruit yield maybe about 8 kg per tree[ 418 ]. A long-lived species, with trees living for 200 - 400 years[ 418 ]. Trees respond very well to coppicing[ 303 ].

Carbon Farming

• 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.
• Staple Crop: Oil  (0-15 percent protein, 16+ percent oil). Some of these are consumed whole while others are exclusively pressed for oil. Annuals include canola, poppyseed, maize, cottonseed, sunflower, peanut. Perennials include high-oil fruits, seeds, and nuts, such as olive, coconut, avocado, oil palm, shea, pecan, and macadamia. Some perennial oil crops are consumed whole as fruits and nuts, while others are exclusively pressed for oil (and some are used fresh and for oil).