Industrial Crop: Fiber  Management: Standard  Minor Global Crop  Other Systems: Multistrata  Staple Crop: Sugar

A plant of the moist, lowland tropics, where it is found at elevations up to 1,400 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 22 - 28c, but can tolerate 16 - 32c[ 418 ]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 3,000 - 3,500mm, but tolerates 2,000 - 4,000mm[ 418 ]. Prefers a deep fertile moisture-retentive but well-drained soil[ 297 , 303 ]. Plants grow well in full sun, even when small[ 297 , 418 ]. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 7, tolerating 5 - 8[ 418 ]. The plant usually produces its first flowers when around 10 - 12 years old, though it can flower as early as 5 - 6 years[ 303 ]. Depending on altitude and temperature and to a lesser degree on factors such as soil fertility, climate and competing vegetation, the palms will stay in the rosette stage for 3.5 - 6 years, and then grow to full size in another 3 - 9 years[ 303 ]. Usually after 5 - 6 years, the fibres can be collected for the first time and after that, every 2 years[ 303 ]. When the palm begins flowering, tapping for the sweet sap can start, but farmers usually wait for the first male flowers. The sap is usually tapped only from male inflorescence stalks, because female inflorescences are said to produce sap of inferior quality, and the more fibrous stalk of the females requires extra effort to prepare. Usually, the closer to the ground the male inflorescence arises, the less sap it produces. One inflorescence can produce about 5 litres of sap a day. An inflorescence of sugar palm can be tapped for 1 - 2 months, and 2 - 4 inflorescences may be tapped at a time[ 303 ]. Since sago, the starchy layer on the inner part of the trunk, is obtained only by cutting trees, it is usually the last product obtained; trees are usually cut for sago when they are more than 30 years old[ 303 ]. The black roots are very strong, extending up to 10 metres from the stem and going as deep as 3 metres[ 418 ].

Carbon Farming

• Industrial Crop: Fiber  Clothing, rugs, sheets, blankets etc. Currently, almost none of our fiber are produced from perennial crops but could be!
• 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.
• Other Systems: Multistrata  Multistrata agroforests feature multiple layers of trees often with herbaceous perennials, annual crops, and livestock.
• Staple Crop: Sugar  Perennial sugar crops include sugarcane and compare favorably to annuals.