Management: Standard  Regional Crop  Staple Crop: Protein

Grows well in lowland tropical areas, succeeding at elevations up to 1,500 metres[300 ]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range15 - 30c, but can tolerate 12 - 36c[418 ]. The foliage can not tolerate frost, but any mature beans remain unaffected[418 ]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 800 - 1,800mm, but tolerates 600 - 2,600mm[418 ]. An easily grown plant, it is not fussy about soil type or fertility, though it prefers a soil rich in organic matter[300 ]. Tolerates some salinity in the soil[299 ]. Plants are shade tolerant[300 ]. A deep rooted plant, it is drought resistant when established and can also tolerate some waterlogging[299 , 300 ]. Prefers a pH in the range 5 - 6, tolerating 4.3 - 7.5[418 ]. Young pods can be harvested about 3 - 5 months after sowing, the mature seeds in 6 - 10 months[300 ]. Average yields of dry seed are about 0.7 - 1.5 tonnes/ha, while the optimum is 4.6 tonnes/ha[300 , 418 ]. 40- 5 0 tonnes/ha of green manure/green vegetation can be obtained[418 ]. A short day plant, often developing a bushy habit, but more commonly a climbing plant[300 ]. 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[200 ]. When removing plant remains at the end of the growing season, it is best to only remove the aerial parts of the plant, leaving the roots in the ground to decay and release their nitrogen.

Carbon Farming

• 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.
• Staple Crop: Protein  (16+ percent protein, 0-15 percent oil). Annuals include beans, chickpeas, lentils, cowpeas, and pigeon peas. Perennials include perennial beans, nuts, leaf protein concentrates, and edible milks.