Agroforestry Services: Contour hedgerow  Agroforestry Services: Nitrogen  Agroforestry Services: Windbreak  Fodder: Bank  Management: Coppice  Management: Standard  Regional Crop

Caragana microphylla prefers a continental climate with its hot summers, cold winters and usually a clear movement from one season to another. The dormant plant can tolerate temperatures down to at least -30°c, but in more maritime climates it is often tempted to come into growth early and this new growth can easily be damaged by late spring frosts[200 ]. Prefers full sun and a light sandy dry or well-drained soil[1 , 11 , 200 ]. Dislikes damp conditions[1 ]. Does not require a rich soil, succeeding on marginal land[11 ]. Caragana microphylla is a polymorphic species and in some cases with transitional forms[266 ]. Hybrids between this species and Caragana korshinskii may occur where these species are sympatric[266 ]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[200 ]. 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 ]. Climate: boreal to warm temperate. Humidity: arid to semi-arid. Carbon Farming - Cultivation: regional crop. Management: standard, coppice. Seeds can typically be harvested in late summer to early autumn. Caragana species generally flower in late spring to early summer, typically from May to June.

Carbon Farming

• Agroforestry Services: Contour hedgerow  Alley cropping systems on the contour of slopes.
• Agroforestry Services: Nitrogen  Plants that contribute to nitrogen fixation include the legume family – Fabaceae.
• Agroforestry Services: Windbreak  Linear plantings of trees and shrubs designed to enhance crop production, protect people and livestock and benefit soil and water conservation.
• 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: Coppice  Cut to the ground repeatedly - resprouting vigorously. Non-destructive management systems maintaining the soil organic carbon.
• 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.