Agroforestry Services: Crop shade  Agroforestry Services: Living fence  Management: Coppice  Management: Standard  Minor Global Crop  Other Systems: Homegarden  Staple Crop: Protein

A plant of tropical regions, it can survive harsh conditions of high temperatures and droughts[ 299 ]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 32°c, but can tolerate 12 - 38°c[ 418 ]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,000 - 2,000mm, but tolerates 500 - 2,500mm[ 418 ]. Prefers a sunny position, but also succeeds in deep shade[ 299 , 418 ]. Thrives on a wide range of soils[ 298 ]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 4.5 - 7.5[ 418 ]. Plants are tolerant of occasional inundation[ 298 , 299 ]. Established plants are drought tolerant[ 299 ]. Although the plant can reach 6 metres in height, the stems are easily broken by wind and it is recommended that a height of less than 2 metres be maintained[ 299 ]. The first harvest can be taken 90 - 120 days after planting out[ 418 ]. A fast-growing plant that resprouts well after cutting[ 298 ]. The leaves are larger when grown in partial shade[ 298 ]. Annual dry leaf yields of up to 12 t/ha are possible on fertile soil with about 9,000 plants/ha[ 299 ]. The optimum harvest period is only 2 - 3 months per year, but in home gardens leaves are harvested as needed all the year round[ 299 ]. The plant is ever-growing with a perpetual crop of leaves[ 332 ]. Harvesting is best done with protected hands, because even in unarmed plants, long-term contact with the white sap can cause skin irritation[ 299 ]. Serious diseases and pests are not known[ 299 ]. There are a number of named varieties[ 299 ]. A USDA study in Puerto Rico reported that higher yields of greens could be obtained with chaya than any other vegetable they had studied. In another study chaya leaves were found to contain substantially greater amounts of nutrients than spinach leaves.

Carbon Farming

• Agroforestry Services: Crop shade  Plants providing crop shade especially trees.
• Agroforestry Services: Living fence  Simply managed rows of shrubs and trees.
• 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.
• Minor Global Crop  These crops are already grown or traded around the world, but on a smaller scale than the global perennial staple and industrial crops, The annual value of a minor global crop is under $1 billion US. Examples include shea, carob, Brazil nuts and fibers such as ramie and sisal.
• Other Systems: Homegarden  Tropical multistrata agroforestry (multi-story combinations of trees, crops, domestic animals in the homestead).
• 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.