Agroforestry Services: Alley crop  Agroforestry Services: Crop shade  Agroforestry Services: Nitrogen  Agroforestry Services: Windbreak  Fodder: Bank  Fodder: Insect  Global Crop as Annual  Management: Coppice  Management: Standard  New Perennial Crop  Other Systems: Homegarden  Other Systems: Perennial fallow  Staple Crop: Protein

Grows well in lowland tropical areas up to an elevation of 1,500 metres, though some forms can still do well up to 2,000 metres[ 300 ]. Plants generally prefer a rainfall in the region of 500 - 1,000mm per year, though there are some cultivars that are adapted to wet, humid tropics so long as the soil is well drained[ 300 ]. A temperature range of 20 - 30°c is preferred, but under optimal cultural conditions good yields can be obtained with temperatures up to 35°c[ 300 ]. Grows best in a sunny position[ 320 ]. Succeeds in a wide range of soils that are well-drained[ 300 ]. Plants produce deep tap roots, they can succeed in poor soils and are extremely drought resistant once established[ 298 , 300 ]. Dislikes very acid soils, growing best in a pH range of 5.5 - 6.5[ 300 ]. A short-lived, woody plant, dying after 1 - 5 years[ 404 ]. Harvesting of dwarf varieties can commence 5 months after sowing (8 - 12 months for taller varieties) and continue for several months[ 300 ]. A relatively low-yielding crop, yields of up to 5 tonnes per hectare of pods, or 1 tonne of seeds can be achieved[ 300 , 404 ]. In perennial crops, 2 - 10 tonnes per hectare a year of woody stalks can be harvested for fuel[ 404 ]. There are two main forms of this plant, and many named varieties of each[ 46 , 300 , 301 ]. Var. Flavus DC. Is a moderate height plant that is early maturing, it is often grown as an annual in India[ 300 ]. The green pods normally contain 3 seeds[ 300 ]. Var. Bicolor DC. Is a taller plant that is later to mature and is usually grown as a perennial[ 300 ]. The dark coloured pods contain 4 - 5 seeds[ 300 ]. Short-duration dwarf cultivars are usually daylength neutral, but the taller growing cultivars are usually short-day plants that will not readily flower if day length is 12 hours or more[ 300 ]. A good companion plant, it is often grown in association with other crops[ 300 ]. 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 ]. The crop is cultivated on marginal land by resource-poor farmers, who commonly grow traditional medium- and long-duration (5-11 months) landraces.

Carbon Farming

• Agroforestry Services: Alley crop  Integrates annual crops with rows of perennials.
• Agroforestry Services: Crop shade  Plants providing crop shade especially trees.
• 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.
• Fodder: Bank  Fodder banks are plantings of high-quality fodder species. Their goal is to maintain healthy productive animals. They can be utilized all year, but are designed to bridge the forage scarcity of annual dry seasons. Fodder bank plants are usually trees or shrubs, and often legumes. The relatively deep roots of these woody perennials allow them to reach soil nutrients and moisture not available to grasses and herbaceous plants.
• Fodder: Insect  Plants grown for useful fodder insects.
• Global Crop as Annual  These crops are already grown or traded around the world. The annual value of each is more than $1 billion US.
• 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 Perennial 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.
• Other Systems: Homegarden  Tropical multistrata agroforestry (multi-story combinations of trees, crops, domestic animals in the homestead).
• Other Systems: Perennial fallow  Land that is plowed and tilled but left unseeded during a growing season.
• 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.