Agroforestry Services: Alley crop  Agroforestry Services: Crop shade  Agroforestry Services: Living fence  Agroforestry Services: Nitrogen  Management: Coppice  Management: Standard  Regional Crop

A plant of the hot, humid, lowland tropics, where it can also be found at elevations up to 2,200 metres[335 , 418 ]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 23 - 30°c, but can tolerate 18 - 35°c[418 ]. Mature plants can be killed by temperatures of -2°c or lower, whilst new growth is damaged at 0°c[418 ]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,200 - 2,500mm, but tolerates 640 - 4,000mm[418 ]. Prefers a sunny position, but also succeeds in dappled shade[418 ]. Tolerant of a range of soil conditions, including limestone[200 ]. It can succeed on floodplains that are waterlogged for 2 - 3 months each year, and is also remarkably resistant to drought, occurring in regions with a 6-month dry season[303 ]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 6.5, tolerating 4.5 - 8[418 ]. The tree can grow rapidly, even on the poorest nutrient-depleted soils[303 ]. Seedling trees can commence fruiting when only two years old[335 ]. Trees can flower and fruit all year round[335 ]. The tree responds well to coppicing[303 ]. A highly variable species, forms with the best quality seedpods are seldom found in Central America, where it is quite likely that all the trees are relics of former cultivation[408 ]. 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[755 ]. Flowering Time: Blooms repeatedly. Bloom Color: White/Near White.

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: Living fence  Simply managed rows of shrubs and trees.
• Agroforestry Services: Nitrogen  Plants that contribute to nitrogen fixation include the legume family – Fabaceae.
• 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.
• Regional Crop  These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.