Fodder: Bank  Fodder: Insect  Industrial Crop: Biomass  Management: Coppice  Management: Standard  New Crop

A plant of the drier, lowland tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,200 metres, growing best below 900 metres[418 ]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range of 26 - 36c, but can tolerate 12 - 50c[418 ]. It can be killed by temperatures of -1c or lower[418 ]. The plant only withstands mild frosts - heavy frosts may cause the branches to die back[418 ]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 250 - 500mm, but tolerates 150 - 900mm[418 ]. Grows best in a sunny position, tolerating light shade[418 ]. Succeeds in most soils of moderate to low fertility[418 ]. It prefers a well-drained soil, though can tolerate some water-logging[418 ]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[418 ]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 7.5, tolerating 5 - 8.5[418 ]. Trees can commence flowering when they are 5 years old[303 ]. The sticky seeds cling to the hooves of passing animals and are dispersed. They are also wind dispersed[303 ]. The leaves and fruits are very glandular and smell strongly of turpentine[308 ]. The tree coppices vigorously after fire, frost or felling[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

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.