Fodder: Bank  Management: Standard  Minor Global Crop

A plant of the higher-rainfall areas of the lowland tropics, where it is cultivated at elevations up to 1,000 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 20 - 25c, but can tolerate 10 - 32c[418 ].It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 2,500 - 3,500mm, but tolerates 2,000 - 4,200mm[418 ]. Grows best in a position in some shade[419 ]. Prefers a well-drained, humus-rich, fertile loam, though it is tolerant of a wide range of soil types[300 ]. Dislikes water-logged soils[300 ]. Prefers a pH in the range 5.7 - 6.3, tolerating 5 - 7.3[418 ]. Grows best in higher-rainfall areas of the lowland tropics[300 ]. Plants take from 400 - 600 days to mature, but the stems can then remain in a suitable condition for a considerable time[300 ]. Whilst many forms of this plant contain calcium oxalate crystals (see notes above on toxicity), cultivars have been developed in India that do not contain oxalates[300 ]. Like many species in the family Araceae, this plant has the ability to heat the flowering spadix as the pollen becomes ready for fertilization. This heat greatly increases the strength of the aroma released by the plant, thus attracting more pollinating insects. It can also have the effect of making the insects more active, thus increasing the level of fertilization[472 ]. Position in the garden: Border, Pots/Tubs, Shrubbery. They do well in pots or tubs but may only reach one to one and a half metres in height.

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.
• Management: Standard  Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
• 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.