Microclimate and development of Coffea canephora cv. Conilon under different shading levels promoted by Australian cedar (Toona ciliata M. Roem. var. Australis)

Abstract

Coffee growers are searching for more sustainable production systems. Shaded cultivation is presented as a management option to attenuate coffee environmental stresses. This work aims at to evaluate the microclimate and coffee plant (Coffea canephora cv. Conilon Clone 02) development under different shading levels promoted by the intercropping with Australian cedar (Toona ciliata M. Roem. var. Australis) or under unshaded conditions. Australian cedar and Conilon coffee were planted in 15 × 2m and 3 x 1.2 m spacing, respectively, resulting in five rows of coffee to one row of Australian cedar. The closer the coffee rows were in relation to the Australian cedar trees the higher shade level was obtained. Climatic variables (temperature, irradiance and relative humidity) and leaf areas were evaluated over four seasons, and the internode lengths of plagiotropic and orthotropic branches were evaluated monthly. The 2013yield was also measured. There was a decrease in both the irradiance and temperature and an increase in the relative humidity at all times under shaded cultivation (closer to the Australian cedar row). The highest growth of plagiotropic and orthotropic branches and leaf expansion were found under shaded cultivation; however, the number of nodes per branch and the yields were similar among treatments. Growing Conilon coffee intercropped with Australian cedar showed a good yield potential.