Agroforestry Services: Nitrogen  Fodder: Bank  Management: Standard  Staple Crop: Balanced carb  Under Development  Wild Staple Crop

A plant of the lowland arid tropics and subtropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,000 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 25 - 30?c, but can tolerate 20 - 38?c[418 ]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 200 - 400mm, but tolerates 100 - 600mm[418 ]. In more humid climates, plants produce more vegetative growth, but often at the expense of fruiting[324 ]. Requires a sunny position in a light, very well-drained soil[324 , 418 ]. Succeeds in poor soils that are extremely low in nitrogen[303 ]. Prefers a pH in the range 6.5 - 7.5, tolerating 6 - 8.4[418 ]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[303 ]. Early aerial growth of young plants is slow until the massive root system is established[324 ]. Plants only 1cm tall can have roots 15cm or more long[324 ]. Plants begin to bear well when 3 - 4 years old[324 ]. Plants begin to bear prolifically when only 1 - 1.2 metres tall[301 ]. Yields of around 5 kg of seeds per shrub can be achieved[324 ]. Such is the demand and free access to all wild plants that the fruits are often collected from the shrubs before they are fully mature[324 ]. Plants can live for 200 years or more[299 ]. A very deep rooted tree[63 ]. The tree has somewhat fleshy leaves that stain the fingers red on being rubbed[63 ]. 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[303 ].

Carbon Farming

• Agroforestry Services: Nitrogen  Plants that contribute to nitrogen fixation include the legume family – Fabaceae.
• 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.
• Management: Standard  Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
• Staple Crop: Balanced carb  (0-15 percent protein, 0-15 percent oil, with at least one over 5 percent). The carbohydrates are from either starch or sugar. Annuals include maize, wheat, rice, and potato. Perennials include chestnuts, carob, perennial fruits, nuts, cereals, pseudocereals, woody pods, and acorns.
• Under Development  Plant breeders are actively working to domesticate these plants for cultivation, but they are not yet commercially available as crops. Examples include most of the perennial cereal grains.
• Wild Staple Crop  Some wild plants have strong historical or contemporary use. Although they are not cultivated crops, they may be wild-managed.