Agroforestry Services: Alley crop  Agroforestry Services: Crop shade  Agroforestry Services: Nitrogen  Agroforestry Services: Windbreak  Fodder: Bank  Management: Standard  Minor Global Crop

The tree will grow in a range of climatic conditions, but is particularly suited to the lowland tropics with a monsoon climate, where it can succeed at elevations up to 1,300 metres[303 ]. It grows in areas where the mean annual rainfall ranges from 500 - 2,800 mm with an optimum of about 1,000 mm[303 ]. The maximum length of the dry period should not exceed 4 - 8 months[303 ]. Under semi-arid conditions (rainfall of 500 - 700 mm), it will only grow when its roots have access to groundwater[303 ]. It requires a mean minimum temperature of 20°c, ranging from 14 - 28°c, and a mean maximum temperature of 31°c, ranging from 24 - 36°c[303 ]. It is susceptible to cold and frost[303 ]. Requires a sunny position[303 ]. It grows best on deep, well-drained, fertile soils, but will succeed on degraded, lateritic soils provided drainage is not impeded[303 ]. It grows poorly on infertile, poorly drained podzolic soils[303 ]. It is not tolerant of salinity but is reasonably tolerant of acid soil conditions[303 ]. It prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 7.5[303 ]. Trees grow fast even in comparatively infertile soils[303 ]. Seedling trees start flowering and fruiting at the age of 2 - 3 years[303 ]. Once established, they flower precociously and abundantly throughout the year[303 ]. Planting density varies according to use. In fuel wood plantations, spacing ranges from 1 x 1 metre to 1x 3 metres. In hedges used for alley cropping or as a shelterbelt, spacing between plants in the row should be 25 - 50 cm[303 ]. Trees respond well to coppicing[303 ]. For the production of fuel wood and charcoal, plantations are generally pollarded or regenerated by coppice leaving 2-3 shoots/stump after 1 year. It has been reported that sapwood should be removed as soon as possible after felling to prevent insect attack of the heartwood[303 ]. The root system consists of a few thick roots, growing to considerable depth, and a dense mat of rootlets in the top 10 - 20 cm of soil, which may reach a distance of 7 metres from the stem in 1 year and eventually a distance up to 15 metres[303 ]. Although many species within the family Fabaceae have a symbiotic relationship with soil bacteria, this species is said to be devoid of such a relationship and therefore does not fix atmospheric nitrogen[755 ]. Flowering Time: Mid Spring Late Spring/Early Summer. Bloom Color: Pale Yellow Bright Yellow. Spacing: 20-30 ft. (6-9 m).

Carbon Farming

• Agroforestry Services: Alley crop  Integrates annual crops with rows of perennials.
• 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.
• 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.