Effect of Pruning in Coffee-Based Agroforestry System on Soil Chemical Properties

Abstract

The low coffee productivity in smallholder coffee-based agroforestry systems and soil fertility degradation indicate mismanagement in soil and plant systems. The study examined pruning management practices on soil chemical properties in smallholder coffee agroforestry systems. Different pruning management were examined on UB forest coffee-pine agroforestry, namely pruned pine and unpruned coffee (T1), unpruned pine and pruned coffee (T2), and unpruned pine and unpruned coffee (T3). Each treatment has four replications, a total of 12 plots (size 2×3 meters for each plot). Soil samples were taken from five sampling points in each plot, ranged between 0-50 cm from the coffee stems at two different soil depths (ie, 0-20 cm and 20-40 cm) in each plot. Unpruned pine and coffee pruned (T2) plots had 21% to 61% higher total N at 20-40 cm soil depth than the other plots. Meanwhile, total K, soil exchangeable K and Na were higher from 21% to 335% in plots with pine and coffee without pruning (T1) as compared to unpruned pine with pruned coffee (T2) and pine and coffee without pruning (T3), preferably at 0-20 cm soil depth. Lastly, the unpruned pine and unpruned coffee management (T3) had 98% to 162% higher soil exchangeable Ca and Mg at a depth of 0-20 cm as compared to the other plots. The study suggests that tree management can affect soil chemistry. The study also found differences in litter input and microclimate (i.e., temperature, moisture and humidity levels, both on soil and air) between plots which are potentially affected by decomposition rate of soil organic matter and nutrient mineralization.