Agroforestry Services: Nitrogen  Agroforestry Services: Understory legume  Management: Fodder  Management: Hay  Minor Global Crop

Climate: tropical, tropical highlands. Humidity: semi-arid to humid. Hot, humid climates, and is neither frost nor drought tolerant. Prefers well-drained, open-textured soils from sands to light clays (e.g. tropical latosols, gleys, loams and sandy podzolic soils); poor on heavy montmorillonitic clays. Found on soils with pH from 4.0-8.3. Moderately tolerant of high Al and Mn but not of high salinity. Tardío types are more tolerant of high levels of Al and Mn than are the common types. Can extract P very efficiently from low P soils, but still responds to applications of P, as well as K, S, Ca, and Cu in soils with low levels of these nutrients. Needs lower levels of Mo than many other tropical legumes [415]. Occurs in areas with rainfall from 700-5,000 mm/year, but mostly from 1,000-2,500 mm/year. Although cultivars survive in lower rainfall areas and can survive long dry periods, they are generally best adapted to regions with >1,500 mm average annual rainfall. Tolerance of flooding and short term waterlogging vary with ecotype. Occurs from about 20ºN in Mexico to 32ºS in Argentina, and from near sea level to 2,200 m asl. This equates to a range in average annual temperatures from about 23-27ºC, but down to 19ºC. Primarily adapted to the hot, humid tropics, although some ecotypes grow satisfactorily in the humid subtropics as well. Tops burnt by frost, but plants generally survive. Mostly to 1,000 m asl , although in some parts of the tropics to 2,000 m [415]. In the humid tropics, the preferred legumes for fertile and infertile soils have traditionally been centro (Centrosema pubescens) and stylo (Stylosanthes guianensis) respectively. However, when soil mineral deficiencies are corrected and seed is inoculated with an effective bacteria, centro has been more productive than stylo on all land classes[310 ]. Strengths: Adapted to acid infertile soils. Low P demand. Tolerant of Al and Mn. Easily established from seed or cutting. Good growth habit for cut-and-carry. Does not twine. Leaf stays green into dry season. Limitations: Will not stand heavy grazing. Frost susceptible. Can reduce the yield of subsequent crops. Seed tends to shatter on ripening, thus reducing yields [415]. Carbon Farming Solutions - Cultivation: minor global crop. Management: hay, fodder (Describes the non-destructive management systems that are used in cultivation) [1-1].

Carbon Farming

• Agroforestry Services: Nitrogen  Plants that contribute to nitrogen fixation include the legume family – Fabaceae.
• Agroforestry Services: Understory legume  Legume vegetation, especially the trees and shrubs growing between the forest canopy and the forest floor.
• Management: Fodder  Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.
• Management: Hay  Cut to the ground and harvested annually. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.
• 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.