Agroforestry Services: Nitrogen  Fodder: Bank  Global Crop  Industrial Crop: Biomass  Industrial Crop: Wax  Management: Hay  Other Systems: Dyke-pond  Other Systems: Homegarden  Staple Crop: Sugar

Most commercial sugarcane is grown at latitudes between 35N and S in the tropics, usually at elevations from sea level to 1,600 metres[418 ]. The plant grows best in areas where the mean annual rainfall is in the range 1,500 - 2,000mm, tolerating 1,000 - 5,000mm[418 ]. It prefers a mean annual temperature within the range 24° - 37°c, though can tolerate 15 - 41°c[418 ]. There are large differences between different cultivars in their tolerance to cold and susceptibility to frost[418 ]. Generally, long-term exposure to temperatures below 10c can be lethal, whilst even short periods at 0°c causes the leaves to become chlorotic, at about -3°c young plants turn brown and the terminal buds and leaves of mature cane die, when the temperature reaches -11.5c the whole plant dies[418 ]. Grows best in a sunny position. A very greedy plant, soon exhausting the soil of nutrients[459 ]. The plant is considered to be moderately tolerant to saline soil conditions and relatively tolerant of acid soils[418 ]. Grows best in a position sheltered from strong winds[418 ]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 8, but can tolerate 4.5 - 9[418 ]. Well-grown plants can become invasive[200 ]. When irrigated, yields of 100 - 150 tons of cane can be obtained from mature plants[418 ]. Young plants can yield 60 - 90 tons[418 ]. There are many named varieties[301 ]. The roots develop from the growth ring on the original planting piece and also from the new shoots that develop. The majority of the roots are thin and superficial with four fifths of the roots commonly found in the top 25 - 50cm of the soil. Thicker roots will penetrate to depths of 4 metres or more[418 ]. Flowering Time: Late Winter/Early Spring. Bloom Color: White/Near White.

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.
• Global Crop  These crops are already grown or traded around the world. The annual value of each is more than $1 billion US Examples include coconuts, almonds, and bananas.
• 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
• Industrial Crop: Wax  Water resistant, malleable substances. Currently, most commercial wax is made from paraffin - a fossil fuel.
• Management: Hay  Cut to the ground and harvested annually. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.
• Other Systems: Dyke-pond  Aquaforestry integrating, fish, livestock and crops.
• Other Systems: Homegarden  Tropical multistrata agroforestry (multi-story combinations of trees, crops, domestic animals in the homestead).
• Staple Crop: Sugar  Perennial sugar crops include sugarcane and compare favorably to annuals.