Shaded Coffee Systems Research Articles

A diversificação da vegetação reduz o ataque do bicho-mineiro-do-cafeeiro Leucoptera coffeella (Guérin-mèneville) (Lepidoptera: Lyonetiidae)?

The effects of increasing plant diversity on the population of the coffee leaf-miner Leucoptera coffeella (Guérin-Mèneville) were investigated in two organic coffee production systems. One system consisted of coffee intercropped with banana trees (shaded system) and the other one of coffee intercropped with pigeon pea (unshaded system). The increase in plant diversity on both systems was achieved via introduction of green manures such a perennial pea nut, sunn hemp and Brazilian lucerne. The population of L. coffeella, predation and parasitism of L. coffeella mines were biweekly evaluated during eight months. The increase in plant diversity on both systems did not affect the attack of L. coffeella on coffee leaves and the mine parasitism rate. However, there was a positive and significant relationship between increasing plant diversity and coffee leaf mine predation by wasps on unshaded coffee system and a negative relationship on shaded coffee system.

Factors affecting soil loss at plot scale and sediment yield at catchment scale in a tropical volcanic agroforestry landscape

Tropical deforestation and land use change is often perceived as the major cause of soil loss by water erosion and of sediment load in rivers that has a negative impact on the functioning of hydropower storage reservoirs. The Sumberjaya area in Sumatra, Indonesia is representative for conflicts and evictions arising from this perception. The purpose of this study as part of a Negotiation Support System approach was to assess sediment yield both at plot and catchment scale and to relate it to a variety of possible clarifying factors i.e. land use, geology, soil and topography. Sediment yield at catchment scale per unit area, was found to be 3–10 times higher than soil loss measured in erosion plots. A stepwise regression showed that the dominant factors explaining sediment yield differences at catchment scale in this volcanic landscape were a particular lithology (Old Andesites) and slope angle followed by the silt fraction of the top soil. In lithologically sensitive areas soil loss at the plot scale under monoculture coffee gardens decreases over time from on average 7–11 Mg ha− 1 yr− 1 to 4–6 Mg ha− 1 yr− 1, mainly because of the development of surface litter layers as filters and top soil compaction in the areas without litter, but remains higher than under shade coffee systems or forest. The runoff coefficient under monoculture coffee remains on average significantly higher (10–15%) than under forest (4%) or under shade coffee systems (4–7%). In lithologically stable areas soil loss remained below 1.8 Mg ha− 1 yr− 1 and the runoff coefficient below 2.5% under all land use types, even bare soil plots or monoculture coffee gardens. Less than 20% of the catchment area produces almost 60% of the sediment yield. The reduction of negative off-site effects on e.g. the life time of a storage reservoir would benefit greatly from an improved assessment of the lithologies in volcanic landscapes and the consideration of potential sediment source and sink areas. In lithologically sensitive areas, a shift from sun to shade coffee systems may result in reducing surface runoff and soil loss, although water erosion at the plot scale is not the main contributor to sediment yield at the catchment scale. The quantification of land use effects on dominant erosive processes such as river bank and river bed erosion, landslides and the concentrated flow erosion on footpaths and roads can contribute to more targeted efforts and relevant incentives to reduce (or live with) sediment load of the rivers.

Coffee (Café arabica var. Bourbon) Fruit Growth and Development Under Varying Shade Levels in the Soconusco Region of Chiapas, Mexico

The belief that less shade cover will increase coffee production has encouraged farmers to reduce or eliminate shade trees from coffee agroforestry systems. However, this reduction in shade may alter environmental factors within coffee systems that may adversely affect fruit production in low-input systems. This will be especially detrimental in light of current climate change patterns in Southern Mexico. In this study, coffee fruit growth, fruit drop, and fruit weight were examined under two different levels of shade cover (high = 60% to 80% and medium = 30% to 50%) in low-input coffee farms of Chiapas, Mexico. Coffee berries were counted and measured throughout the 2005 growing season and weighed at harvest. Results showed that solar radiation, temperature, humidity, and soil moisture were correlated with fruit growth, all of which are environmental factors heavily controlled by shade cover. Fruit drop was highly correlated to both wind and soil moisture. Fruit weights were also highly correlated to soil moisture, but not significantly different between sites. Yield extrapolations calculated from site data showed little difference between the two sites, indicating that the high-shade site produced equally well to the medium-shade site. Future management for coffee agriculture should address the use of shade to maintain beneficial environmental factors for coffee production, since more highly shaded coffee systems are able to maintain productive environmental factors and high production rates.

Agricultural intensification within agroforestry: The case of coffee and wood products

Compared to the environmental and conservation value as refuges for biodiversity, less is known about the social and economic value of shaded coffee systems. The agroforestry system can serve as a source of non-coffee products for diverse purposes. This study focuses on the role of shade trees in smallholder coffee farms, examining the wood products derived from the shaded coffee system. Data presented from surveys with 185 growers in Peru and 153 growers in Guatemala show that the consumption and sale of all non-coffee products account for a fifth to a third of the total value realized from the agroforestry system. Fuelwood and construction materials account for much of this value. Differences seen between countries can be traced to agricultural intensification – the degree to which the coffee agroforestry system is “technified” (i.e., managed with a reduced shade tree cover and diversity, high-yielding cultivars, agrochemical inputs, etc.) – as well as the relative demand for wood resources and farmers’ access to natural forest systems.

Above- and belowground biomass, nutrient and carbon stocks contrasting an open-grown and a shaded coffee plantation

Coffee (Coffea canephora var robusta) is grown in Southwestern Togo under shade of native Albizia adianthifolia as a low input cropping system. However, there is no information on carbon and nutrient cycling in these shaded coffee systems. Hence, a study was conducted in a mature coffee plantation in Southwestern Togo to determine carbon and nutrient stocks in shaded versus open-grown coffee systems. Biomass of Albizia trees was predicted by allometry, whereas biomass of coffee bushes was estimated through destructive sampling. Above- and belowground biomass estimates were respectively, 140 Mg ha−1 and 32 Mg ha−1 in the coffee–Albizia association, and 29.7 Mg ha−1 and 18.7 Mg ha−1 in the open-grown system. Albizia trees contributed 87% of total aboveground biomass and 55% of total root biomass in the shaded coffee system. Individual coffee bushes consistently had higher biomass in the open-grown than in the shaded coffee system. Total C stock was 81 Mg ha−1 in the shaded coffee system and only 22.9 Mg ha−1 for coffee grown in the open. Apart from P and Mg, considerable amounts of major nutrients were stored in the shade tree biomass in non-easily recyclable fractions. Plant tissues in the shaded coffee system had higher N concentration, suggesting possible N fixation. Given the potential for competition between the shade trees and coffee for nutrients, particularly in low soil fertility conditions, it is suggested that the shade trees be periodically pruned in order to increase organic matter addition and nutrient return to the soil.

Soil random roughness and depression storage on coffee farms of varying shade levels

Water availability in rainfed coffee agroecosystems is an important factor in determining the production success of the crop. In this study, an estimate of soil water capture and storage was conducted in order to understand the differences of soil water availability among coffee farms or various management intensities, distinguished here by differences in shade cover level. Measurements of effective soil depression storage, leaf litter and soil moisture were taken in each of the sites. These measurements were taken to better understand how different shade coffee systems may gain or lose opportunities to keep water within the system due to contributions of shade. Three sites of varying shade were chosen in the Soconusco region of Chiapas, Mexico. The medium (30–50% cover) shade site was found to be more effective for precipitation capture when compared to the low (10–30% cover) shade site because of a larger value of effective depression storage ( t-test, p = 0.05) due to increased soil roughness. This conclusion was supported by significantly higher soil moisture measurements in the medium shade site when compared to the low shade site in the dry season (repeated measure GLM, p = 0.001). The high shade (60–80% cover) site was found to have a greater slope than the other two sites, yielding smaller effective storage capacities; yet the high shade site was able to retain 15% of the available rainfall during the dry season through surface storage, possibly because of greater leaf litter and other shade contributions. Farmers may consider the use of shade trees within coffee farms as a practical method toward preserving water within the agroecosystem.

Economic Evaluation of Pollination Services Comparing Coffee Landscapes in Ecuador and Indonesia

Olschewski, R., T. Tscharntke, P. C. Benítez, S. Schwarze, and A. Klein. 2006. Economic evaluation of pollination services comparing coffee landscapes in Ecuador and Indonesia. Ecology and Society 11(1): 7. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-01629-110107

Changes in arboreal ant populations following pruning of coffee shade-treesin Chiapas, Mexico

Reducing or eliminating shade cover in coffee (Coffea arabica L.) agroforestry systems affects fungal disease and pest outbreaks, coffee yields, and can result in biodiversity loss of important predators, such as ants. Less dramatic changes in shade structure or composition may also affect ants. Shade tree pruning, a common management practice in shaded coffee systems, has unknown consequences for ant communities. The effects of pruning on arboreal ant communities were investigated by measuring ant abundance, distribution, and species richness in the short (1 week) and long-term (6 months) after shade tree pruning in one 25×50 m plot. Shade tree pruning significantly affected the distribution and abundance of two of the most common ant species (Azteca instabilis F. Smith and Camponotus senex textor Forel), and in general did not affect other ants. After pruning, C. senex textor ants were 80% more abundant on coffee plants and shade trees, whereas A. instabilis abundance dropped by 40% on coffee plants and 73% on shade trees after pruning. Additionally, C. senex textor were significantly more widespread, whereas A. instabilis distributions were more restricted. The effects of pruning were strong over the short-term, but were not evident over the long-term. Shade tree pruning did not affect ant diversity. Thus shade tree pruning largely affected certain aspects of arboreal ant communities in one coffee agroforestry system, with important implications for biological control.

Infestação natural de moscas frugívoras (Diptera: Tephritoidea) em café arábica, sob cultivo orgânico arborizado e a pleno sol, em Valença, RJ

As moscas frugívoras vêm assumindo grande importância econômica em cafezais por provocarem queda prematura de frutos e redução significativa da qualidade da bebida. O café é um repositório natural de espécies de Tephritidae que infestam frutas de importância econômica. Este estudo avaliou a influência dos sistemas de café sombreado e a pleno sol, sob manejo orgânico, na infestação natural de frutos de Coffea arabica L. Icatu Amarelo por moscas frugívoras. Um experimento inteiramente casualizado foi instalado em Valença, RJ, com dois tratamentos (café sombreado com Musa sp. e Erithrina verna Vell. e solteiro a pleno sol) e quatro repetições. Uma amostra de 1 kg de frutos maduros por parcela foi colhida em março de 2004 para avaliar a infestação e identificar as espécies infestantes. O índice médio de infestação dos frutos foi significativamente maior no sistema sombreado. Quatro espécies de Tephritidae (Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann), Anastrepha fraterculus (Wiedemann), Anastrepha obliqua (Macquart) e Anastrepha sororcula Zucchi) e seis de Lonchaeidae (Neosilba pendula (Bezzi), Neosilba pseudopendula (Korytkowski and Ojeda), Neosilba certa (Walker), Neosilba glaberrima (Wiedemann), Neosilba n.sp.9 e Neosilba n.sp.10) foram obtidas dos frutos de café. Nove espécies de parasitóides foram identificadas, das quais seis pertencem a Braconidae (Asobara anastrephae (Muesebeck), Doryctobracon areolatus (Szépligeti), Doryctobracon brasiliensis (Szépligeti), Utetes anastrephae (Viereck), Opius bellus Gahan e Opius sp.) e três a Figitidae (Aganaspis pelleranoi (Brèthes), Dicerataspis flavipes (Kieffer) e Odontosema anastrephae Borgmeier). A percentagem de parasitismo total foi de 8,8% e 12,4% em café sombreado e a pleno sol, respectivamente.

Characteristics and decomposition rates of pruning residues from a shaded coffee system in Southeastern Brazil

In the Zona da Mata Mineira of Southeastern Brazil the development of sustainable land requires the integration of crops with trees. The objectives of this study then were to (i) characterize prunings from the main tree species in an agroforestry system; (ii) determine the effects of the physical and chemical characteristics of the prunings on their decomposition patterns in the laboratory; (iii) assess the effect of mixing leaves of different species on decomposition rates; and (iv) propose a decomposition index for the residues studied. The study was carried out with pruning residues from Cajanus cajan, Solanum variable, Cassia ferruginea, Piptadenia gonoacantha, Croton urucurana, and Melinis multiflora. The materials were characterized for total C, N, P, Ca, Mg and K contents; lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose and soluble polyphenols contents. The pruning residues had high polyphenols and lignin contents, high C:N and C:P ratios, and low contents of Ca, Mg, and K. The low decomposition rates of the prunings were related to the P, K, hemicellulose and polyphenol contents. The rates of N mineralization from most of the residues indicate that there is a potential to supply the needs of a crop of maize. The residues of some species, if decomposed alone, would not supply sufficient nutrients, and need to be mixed with leaves of other species.

Phosphorus pools in Oxisols under shaded and unshaded coffee systems on farmers' fields in Brazil

Phosphorus (P) is a primary limiting nutrient for crop production in weathered tropical soils. The deficiency is mainly caused by sorption of phosphate onto Al- and Fe- (hydr)oxides. We hypothesise that the distribution of soil P among various pools is influenced by land use. Our objective was to characterise the soil inorganic (Pi) and organic P (Po) pools and to compare the various pools at different depths in agroforestry (shaded) and monocultural (unshaded) coffee cultivation systems. The study was carried out in the Atlantic Coastal Rainforest domain, Brazil, with Oxisols as the dominant soil type. Soils were collected from four farmers' coffee (Coffea arabica L.) fields, two agroforestry and two monocultural systems. Three profiles were sampled per field, at depths of 2–3, 10–15 and 40–60 cm. A simplified sequential P fractionation was carried out, using resin, 0.5 M NaHCO3, 0.1 M NaOH, 1 M HCl and concentrated HCl as extractants. Sum-P (resin, NaHCO3 NaOH, 1 M HCl and concentrated HCl) ranged from 370 to 830 mg kg−1. Concentrated HCl extracted the largest portion (74%), followed by NaOH (22.5%). Labile (sum of resin, NaHCO3 and NaOH) P ranged from 13 to 40% of Sum-P. The major part (62%) of the labile fraction was Po. In the agroforestry fields, the amount of Po decreased less with depth and the percentage of Po in labile pools was higher than in monocultural fields. This suggests that agroforestry maintains larger fractions of P available to agricultural crops by influencing the dynamics of P through the conversion of part of the Pi into Po, thereby reducing P losses to the unavailable pools.

Research methods for multistrata agroforestry systems with coffee and cacao: recommendations from two decades of research at CATIE

This paper reviews the research themes and methodologies used by CATIE in agroforestry research with shade trees over coffee (Coffea arabica) and cacao (Theobroma cacao) during the past 20 years. Initially research focused on characterization and production studies (of crop and timber including border areas) of traditional systems using temporary and permanent sample plots on private farms. The assessment area of traditional shade-coffee (or cacao) systems should be the whole plot, including the border areas, and not some subjectively selected central area which supposedly represents unit area productivity. Uncontrolled crop, tree, and management heterogeneity limited extrapolation of early on-farm research results to other farmers' fields. Replicated case studies of best bet technologies (traditional or experimental) on different farms are often preferable to the use of formal experimental designs. On-station research included the use of systematic spacing designs to test extreme shade tree density treatments of coffee. Most nutrient cycling studies were also carried out on-station, using service and timber shade species over coffee and cacao to evaluate the ability of these agroforestry systems to maintain nutrient reserves and diversify production. Plot size (even 36 × 36 m) was limiting for long term research because of inter-plot interference, both below- and above ground, when using fast growing, tall timber trees as shade. These experiences suggest a minimum plot size of 2,500 m2. Individual tree designs and tree-crop interface studies (e.g. regression analysis of data taken along transects) are promising experimental/sampling approaches that need further development. The principal research thrusts proposed for the next five years are bio-physical process research on coffee responses to shade and competition with trees (growth, carbon allocation, phenology, disease-pest tolerance, yields and coffee quality effects) and socioeconomic analyses of both traditional and new or improved shade – coffee combinations vs. monocultures.

The foraging kinetics of ground ant communities in different mexican coffee agroecosystems

Foraging efficiency was studied by measuring the rate of tuna fish bait discovery by ants in unshaded and two types of shaded coffee systems. We also investigated the effect of weed biomass upon ant foraging efficiency. We found that the rate of discovery was faster in the coffee system with no shade than in systems with shade trees. The rate of discovery in the two types of shade systems (monospecific and polyspecific shade) was similar. Differences in the foraging rate between systems seem to be related to the composition of the ground ant community in each of the systems, and to cumulative factors such as plant diversity, microclimate and interspecific competition. No correlation was found between weed biomass and ant foraging efficiency. The results of this study support the idea of manipulating agroecosystem plant and structural diversity in order to enhance pest regulation by ants.