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mangium

Acacia mangium Willd.

Family: Fabaceae · Genus: Acacia

black wattle, mangium acacia

Secondary I Emergent Fertilizer & mulch 🌱 Nitrogen fixer 🪓 Coppices after cutting
USGS · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Extremely fast-growing nitrogen-fixing legume, central in syntropic systems as a producer of both cover and fertilizer biomass. Pasini classifies it within the Accumulation system. Tolerates drastic pruning and is commonly consorted with eucalyptus.

📚 Synonyms

Scientific synonyms: Racosperma mangium (Willd.) Pedley, Mangium montanum Rumph.

Götsch succession

Götsch stage
Secondary I
Ecological role
Early secondary
Primary stratum
Emergent
Strata
Emergent, High
Biomass class
Fertilizer & mulch

Environment

Light requirement
Full sun
Water requirement
Moderate
Drought tolerance
Moderate
Waterlogging tolerance
Low
Soil pH range
4.5–6.5
Preferred soil texture
Sandy, Loamy, Clayey

Morphology

Mature height
15–30 m
Recommended spacing
3 m
Root system
Lateral
Root depth
Shallow
Growth rate
Very fast
Lifespan
30–50 years
Time to first harvest
24 months
Productive lifespan
8 years

Biomes & climate

Köppen classes

Where it fits in a guild

Mangium takes the Emergent stratum in the Secondary I phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time. It also fixes nitrogen, feeding the soil for its line neighbors.

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Emergent · ≈30 m High Medium Low Ground cover

🪴 Cultivation

Fast-growing, frost-sensitive pioneer for the humid tropics; N-fixing and mycorrhizal, used to rehabilitate degraded/acid/compacted soils and as a nurse species (fixes more N mixed with eucalyptus). Plant ~3×2–3×3 m; responds strongly to P. A poor stump-coppicer with shallow wind-prone roots — replant from seed, prune multi-stems at 18–24 months, and harvest by ~5–7 years to avoid heart rot.

📅 Phenology

Flowering months: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

Fruiting months: January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

❓ Frequently asked questions

How long until the first harvest of mangium?

The first harvest of mangium comes around 24 months after planting.

What spacing is recommended for mangium?

The recommended spacing for mangium is 3 m.

How tall does mangium grow?

At maturity, mangium reaches 15–30 m tall.

When does mangium fruit?

Fruiting of mangium occurs in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.

When does mangium flower?

Flowering of mangium occurs in January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December.

What stage and stratum does mangium occupy in a syntropic system?

In a syntropic system, mangium belongs to the secondary i stage, occupying the emergent stratum.

Does mangium fix nitrogen?

Yes — mangium is a nitrogen-fixing species that helps fertilize the system's soil.

Functions

🌱 Nitrogen fixer 🌿 Biomass producer 🪴 Nurse plant Timber Fuelwood

Propagation

Seed, Cutting

Citations

  1. Pasini, F. & Guimarães, L. (2017) — Conceitos e princípios práticos da agrofloresta sucessional, Tabela 3 (Incaper) , p. 116 (primary_stratum)
  2. Pasini, F. & Guimarães, L. (2017) — Sistema de Acumulação , p. 117 (gotsch_stage, biomass_class, nitrogen_fixer)
  3. Acacia mangium — Embrapa Florestas
  4. EMBRAPA Florestas — Acacia mangium (Documentos 28) (spacing_min_m, spacing_max_m, ph_min, ph_max, root_system, root_depth, propagation, phenology, cultivation_notes, soil_texture_preference)
  5. Useful Tropical Plants — Acacia mangium (ph_min, ph_max, waterlogging_tolerance, lifespan_years_min, lifespan_years_max, time_to_first_harvest_months, propagation, cultivation_notes)
  6. Koutika & Richardson 2019 / CIFOR — Acacia mangium productive rotations (productive_lifespan_years)
  7. IPNI — Acacia mangium Willd. (external_ids, synonyms)

External references

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