Agroforestry Services: Crop shade  Agroforestry Services: Nitrogen  Agroforestry Services: Windbreak  Fodder: Bank  Industrial Crop: Biomass  Industrial Crop: Oil  Management: Coppice  Management: Standard  New Crop

Native to humid tropical and subtropical environments, it is found at elevations from sea level to 1,200 metres[303 ]. It grows in areas where the mean annual temperature ranges from a minimum of 1 - 16°c, up to a maximum of 27 - 38 (exceptionally 50)°c, and the mean annual rainfall is 500 - 2,500 mm, with a dry season of 2 - 6 months[303 ]. Mature plants can tolerate light frosts[303 ]. The plant can grow on most soil types[303 ]. The best growth is found on deep well-drained sandy loams with assured moisture, but it will also grow on sandy soils and heavy swelling clay soils[303 ]. It does not do well on dry sands, although it tolerates saline conditions, alkalinity and waterlogged soils[303 ]. Tolerant of shade, it can grow under the shade of other trees, but will also grow well in full sun[303 ]. Established plants are drought resistant[303 ]. Plants are wind-resistant, tolerating at least some salt-laden air[309 ]. Plants become nutrient deficient if growing in soils with a pH higher than 7.5[309 ]. The plant has a long, thick taproot and widely spreading lateral roots[414 ]. The spread of roots on this species, about 9 metres in 18 years, is greater than most other species; moreover it produces root suckers profusely[303 ]. Because of these characteristics, pongam is unsuitable for agroforestry and has the potential to become a weed if not managed carefully[303 ]. Pod production commences when seedlings are 5 - 7 years old[303 ]. The pods do not open naturally, and must decay before the seeds can germinate[303 ]. Individual trees yield 9 - 90 kg of pods annually, while mature trees yield 8 - 24 kg of seeds annually[303 ]. Growth of young trees is fairly slow; a growth of 1.3 metres in height and 0.4 cm in diameter in 13 months was recorded in India[303 ]. Trees coppice well and can also be pollarded[303 ]. When planted as a shade or ornamental tree, pruning may be necessary to obtain a trunk of appropriate height[303 ]. 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 ]. Flowering Time: Mid Spring. Bloom Color: Pink Violet/Lavender White/Near White. Spacing: 30-40 ft. (9-12 m).

Carbon Farming

• Agroforestry Services: Crop shade  Plants providing crop shade especially trees.
• 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.
• Industrial Crop: Biomass  Three broad categories: bamboos, resprouting woody plants, and giant grasses. uses include: protein, materials (paper, building materials, fibers, biochar etc.), chemicals (biobased chemicals), energy - biofuels
• Industrial Crop: Oil  Materials, chemicals and energy include bioplastics, biomass, glycerin, soaps, lubricants, paints, biodiesel. Oilseed crop types.
• 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.
• New Crop  Most new crops were important wild plants until recently, although some are the result of hybridization. They have been developed in the last few, decades. What they have in common is that they are currently cultivated by farmers. Examples include baobab, argan, and buffalo gourd.