Management: Standard  Staple Crop: Protein-oil  Wild Staple Crop

Mongongo nut is a plant of arid to moist tropical and subtropical areas where it is found at elevations ranging from 50 - 1,500 metres, more commonly at the higher end of the range[325 , 418 ]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 18 - 30°c, but can tolerate 10 - 40°c[418 ]. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -7°c, but young growth can be severely damaged at -1°c[418 ]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 500 - 800mm, but tolerates 400 - 1,000mm[418 ]. It can tolerate mean rainfall as low as 150mm[325 ]. Grows best in a sunny position[418 ]. Requires a well-drained soil, and is not found on compacted clay soils or areas subject to flooding[325 ]. Prefers a pH in the range 6.5 - 8, tolerating 6 - 8.5[418 ]. Established plants are drought tolerant[325 ]. Strong winds often cause immature fruits to drop[299 ]. The growth from seedling to sapling stage depends very much on the fire regime prevailing in the area. Fires reduce young saplings back to ground level as long as their bark is too thin to protect them[299 ]. Plants coppice well when young[299 ]. Trees may start flowering and fruiting when about 20 years old, and can live up to 100 years[299 ]. Fruit production is very closely linked to the amount of rain of the previous season, with crop yields higher in years following heavy rains[299 ]. High rainfall after flowering has been found to damage the developing fruits, as do fires late in the dry season[299 ]. Limited data are available on yields, although some estimates indicate yields of 200 - 1000 kilos per hectare in northern Namibia, and about 300 kilos in Angola[299 ]. A dioecious plant, both male and female forms must be grown if fruit and seed are required[308 ]. Cultivated as a wild staple.

Carbon Farming

• Management: Standard  Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
• Staple Crop: Protein-oil  (16+ percent protein, 16+ percent oil). Annuals include soybeans, peanuts, sunflower seeds. Perennials include seeds, beans, nuts, and fruits such as almond, Brazil nut, pistachio, walnut, hazel, and safou.
• Wild Staple Crop  Some wild plants have strong historical or contemporary use. Although they are not cultivated crops, they may be wild-managed.