Species Characteristics

SPECIES NAME org
mat
alley
crop
impr
fallow
wood
lot
fuel
wood
crop
shade
wind
break
live
fence
past
impr.
fod-
der
food  orna-
ment
clim.
cond
salt  dry  acid  alka-
line
height
class
Acacia angustissima • •     >     >   >     1±     •   S
Acacia auriculiformis       • • • •         • 1+ • • • • T
Acacia confusa >     • • • •         • 1,2+ • •     M
Acacia koa     > • • • •         • 1±     •   T
Acacia mangium       • •       •     • 1+     •   T
Acrocarpus fraxinifolius     > • • > >   >     • 1,2±   • •   T
Albizia lebbeck > >   • • • •   > •   • 1,2,3± • • • • M
Albizia saman   >   • • • >   • • > • 1+ • • •   M
Cajanus cajan > > •   •         • •   1+,2±   •     S
Calliandra calothyrsus • •     •  
•
    >   • 1±   • •   M
Dalbergia sissoo       • • • >   > >     1,2± • •     T
Desmodium rensonii • • >             •     1±     •   S
Enterolobium cyclocarpum >     • • •     • •   • 1,2+   • • • T
Erythrina berteroana • >       • • •   •   • 1+         M
Erythrina poeppigiana • >       • • •   •   • 1+         M
Flemingia macrophylla • • •   >         >     1+     •   S
Gliricidia sepium • • > • • • > •   >   • 1,2+ • • • • M
Leucaena diversifolia • •     • • >     >     1±,2-     •   M
Leucaena hybrid KX2 • • >   •         •     1,2+   • •   M
Leucaena leucocephala • •   > • • •     • •   1,2+   •     T
Paraserianthes falcataria • >       •     •     • 1,2±   •     T
Pithecellobium dulce           • • • •     • 1,2,3+ • • • • M
Sesbania grandiflora >       • •       • •   1,2+ •     • M
Sesbania sesban •           >     • •   1,2± • •   • S

 

 Key
* = experience for this purpose
> = potential for this purpose

Uses
org mat = organic matter for fertilizer and mulch
alley crop = used in alley cropping systems
impr. fallow = used to enrich fallow
wood lot = wood suitable for building, crafts
fuel wood = wood suitable for burning as fuel
crop shade = good shade tree for crops or pasture
windbreak = good component of a windbreak
live fence = component in living fence, fence posts
past. impr. = pasture improvement in silvopasture
fodder = animal fodder uses
food = food uses for people
ornament = particularly ornamental
 Climatic conditions:
1 = >1000mm mean annual rainfall
2 = 500-1000mm mean annual rainfall
3 = <500 mm mean annual rainfall
+ = mean annual temperature greater than 20°C
- = mean annual temperature less than 20°C

Tolerances
salt = tolerates saline conditions
dry = tolerates drought, arid conditions
acid = tolerates acid soils
alkaline = tolerates alkaline soils

Height Class (approximate at 12 years growth)
S = short, height to 5 meters
M = medium, height 5-15 meters
T = tall, height greater than 15 meters
This table serves as a general guide only. Please refer to the literature for further information.

Selected References

  • Elevitch, Craig. 1996. Working Trees: Enriching Your Farm with Useful Trees, Holualoa, Hawaii.
  • Glover, Nancy. Profiles of Select Nitrogen Fixing Trees for Small Farm Planting. NFTA, Waimanalo, Hawaii.
  • International Institute of Rural Reconstruction. 1990. Agroforestry Technology Information Kit, IIRR, New York, New York.
  • Macklin, Bill et al. 1989. Establishment Guide. NFTA Cooperative Planting Program NFTA, Hawaii.
  • Nitrogen Fixing Tree Association. 1989-1994. NFT Highlights. Nitrogen Fixing Tree Association, Morrilton, Arkansas, USA.
  • Tripathi, Bansh R. et al. 1992. Alley Farming Training Manual, Volume I: Core Course in Alley Farming, Ibadan, Nigeria.