Shade Trees Research Articles

Emergence and initial growth of açaí palm under different light levels after seed dormancy breaking treatments

Light availability and dormancy are two factors that interfere with germination and initial plant growth. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of different pre-germination treatments on the emergence and initial growth of Euterpe oleracea Mart. seedlings subjected to different levels of luminosity. A completely randomized design was adopted in a 4 × 3 factorial scheme with four methods of overcoming dormancy (intact seed, hot water at 60 °C, soaking for 24 h in water, and mechanical scarification with sandpaper No. 100) and three levels of luminosity (25 %, 65 %, and 100 %) with 16 repetitions per treatment. The emergence percentage, speed index, and mean time were analyzed. The initial growth was evaluated using the following variables: plant height, stem diameter, shoot dry mass, root dry mass, total dry mass, leaf area, and root mass ratio. There was an interaction between light factors and dormancy breakage for plant height, stem diameter, and leaf area. The variables root dry mass, shoot dry mass, and root mass ratio showed better results with full sun. It was concluded that shade treatments provided greater initial growth for the açaí palm with intact seeds.

Carbon Net-Zero by 2050: Benefits, Challenges and Way Forward

In accordance with the Paris Agreement, to which Sri Lanka is a Party to, global temperature rise must be kept well below 2°C relative to pre-industrial levels and efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5oC above pre-industrial level must be pursued. In response to this, countries who signed the UNFCCC, including Sri Lanka, submitted their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in 2016 which will come into force during 2021-2030. However, according to Emissions Gap Report 2021 (UNEP 2021), climate pledges combined with other mitigation measures put the world on track for a global temperature rise of 2.7°C by the end of the century which is above the goals of the Paris climate agreement which intended to keep the global temperature rise well below 2°C. Therefore, in order to address this alarming situation, many countries including Sri Lanka have given pledges to become carbon neutral by 2050. This means that the emissions from economic sectors will be reduced as per the NDC scenario and even beyond while increasing the carbon sequestration.
 In this equation, plants play a unique role as they are the only organisms which can absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide in the photosynthesis function. According to the Third National Communication of Sri Lanka, forests/trees will contribute to 11.5% of the Green House Gas (GHG) emission reduction which is projected by all sectors in the country by 2030. It is required to increase this contribution to a much higher level in order to achieve carbon neutral status. In this context while drastically reducing the deforestation almost to zero, it is required to increase the tree cover in the country including natural forests and trees outside forests which includes home gardens, urban forests and avenue plants, coconut plantations, shade trees in tea lands etc.

Effect of intermittent shade on nitrogen dynamics assessed by 15N trace isotopes, enzymatic activity and yield of Brassica napus L.

Modern era of agriculture is concerned with the environmental influence on crop growth and development. Shading is one of the crucial factors affecting crop growth considerably, which has been neglected over the years. Therefore, a two-year field experiment was aimed to investigate the effects of shading at flowering (S1) and pod development (S2) stages on nitrogen (N) dynamics, carbohydrates and yield of rapeseed. Two rapeseed genotypes (Chuannong and Zhongyouza) were selected to evaluate the effects of shading on 15N trace isotopes, enzymatic activities, dry matter, nitrogen and carbohydrate distribution and their relationship with yield. The results demonstrated that both shading treatments disturbed the nitrogen accumulation and transportation at the maturity stage. It was found that shading induced the downregulation of the N mobilizing enzymes (NR, NiR, GS, and GOGAT) in leaves and pods at both developmental stages. Shading at both growth stages resulted in reduced dry matter of both varieties but only S2 exhibited the decline in pod shell and seeds dry weight in both years. Besides this, carbohydrates distribution toward economic organs was declined by S2 treatment and its substantial impact was also experienced in seed weight and seeds number per pod which ultimately decreased the yield in both genotypes. We also revealed that yield is positively correlated with dry matter, nitrogen content and carbohydrates transportation. In contrast to Chuannong, the Zhongyouza genotype performed relatively better under shade stress. Overall, it was noticed that shading at pod developmental stage considerable affected the transportation of N and carbohydrates which led to reduced rapeseed yield as compared to shading at flowering stage. Our study provides basic theoretical support for the management techniques of rapeseed grown under low light regions and revealed the critical growth stage which can be negatively impacted by low light.

Estructura del agropaisaje y daño causado por ardillas rojas a mazorcas de cacao

Cocoa is a strategic resource because it hosts high biodiversity, and it is a reliable source of foreign exchange. In Venezuela, fungi and red squirrels mainly affect its productivity. The objective was to evaluate the influence of the cocoa crop structure on the level of damage caused by red squirrels on the pods. The vegetation structure was defined in 15 farms assessing the cocoa tree biomass, the magnitude of shade tree cover, number of associated crops, presence of alternative fruit trees, and the type of ecological succession present in the surrounding. The % of damage was calculated, and nonparametric tests were used to process data. The damage was higher in crops with less shade cover, a more abundant number of associated crops, and alternative fruit trees. Squirrels used the cocoa pods opportunistically but preferred other fruits. It is concluded that pods can be a complementary food for squirrels to the extent that the cocoa plantation is more complex and has a connection with the forest. Shade cover did not directly influenced squirrels, but it is crucial for bird predators which are more sensitive to disturbance.

Micrometeorological and Hydraulic Properties of an Urban Green Space on a Warm Summer Day in a Mediterranean City (Attica–Greece)

Urban Green Spaces (UGSs) are considered the most effective tool to mitigate Urban Heat Islands (UHIs). The optical properties of the materials and the vegetation types of the UGSs affect their surface temperatures, directly influencing their cooling ability. The hydraulic properties of urban soils are also affected by the vegetation coverage. The aim of this study is to investigate the temperature and reflected radiation (albedo) differences between UGS’s elements, around noon on a warm summer day, in Greece. The results indicate that green elements have smaller surface temperatures and higher reflectance compared to the artificial or the dry bare soil, presenting differences with the direct air temperature (measured above the surfaces with unshielded thermometers) −5.5 °C (shrubs), −3.8 °C (grass), +7.8 °C or +8.7 °C (paved surfaces inside or outside the UGS), +10.8 °C (dry bare soil), +12.2 °C (concrete) and +12.5 °C (asphalt), and albedo values 0.14 (grass and shrubs), 0.15 (dry bare soil), 0.27 (concrete), 0.21 (asphalt) and 0.20 (paved surfaces). The tree shades also produce great surface differences. The unsaturated hydraulic conductivity of the urban soil is greater than the surfaces covered with grass compared to the shrub-covered or bare soil, presenting values of 27.6, 10.8 and 11.4 mm h−1, respectively.

Carbon dioxide and light curves and leaf gas exchange responses to shade levels in bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.)

Vegetable crops grown under shade nets typically show increased yield and quality. However, little is known about the photosynthetic responses at various CO2 and light levels under nets. This study aimed to determine carbon dioxide (A/Cc) and light (A/I) curves and leaf gas exchange response of bell pepper plants grown under nets at various shade levels. Experiments were conducted in the spring-summer of 2016 and 2018 in Tifton, Georgia (GA), USA, with five shade treatments [0 % (open field), 30 %, 47 %, 63 %, and 80 %]. The A/Cc curves revealed that plants grown at 30 % shade and in the open field had similar carboxylation, electron transport, and triose phosphate utilization rates. The A/I curves showed that gross and net photosynthesis were highest at 30 % shade. The 30 % shade had similar stomatal conductance, intercellular CO2, electron transport rate, and water use efficiency compared to the open field. The A/Cc and A/I curves and the leaf gas exchange parameters explained the intrinsic causes for the higher net photosynthesis at 30 % shade than in open-field bell pepper. The information from A/Cc-curves, A/I-curves, and leaf gas exchange is applicable in modeling photosynthesis and predicting primary productivity for C3 plants in elevated-CO2 and altered-light environments.

Bird abundance and diversity in shade coffee and natural forest in Kenya

Coffee, one of the major traded commodities in the world, has economic value for rural livelihood and potentially as habitat for forest wildlife. Previous work in Central Kenya has demonstrated that when cultivated with shade trees, coffee farms can host high levels of bird diversity. However, questions of how the African bird communities in shade coffee farms compares to those in natural forest remained unanswered. Using three visits to each of 160-point count locations in natural forest (80) and shade coffee sites (80) in Central Kenya, we estimated bird abundance and species richness in natural forest and shade coffee. Specifically, we tested hypotheses that the abundance and diversity of birds in shade-coffee and natural forests varies by feeding guilds and forest-association status. We found that, compared to natural forest, shade coffee had higher bird abundance and species richness of carnivores, granivores, omnivores, and insectivores, including understory forest insectivores specifically. Frugivores and nectivores had similar abundance in forest and coffee, but were more species rich in forest and coffee, respectively. The abundance and species richness of forest specialists and forest visitors were higher in natural forest than in shade coffee, whereas forest generalists and birds with no forest association status were more abundant and species rich in shade coffee. Our study confirms the value of remnant native trees within coffee plantations for the persistence and conservation of avian communities, while also clarifying that some groups of birds are reliant on natural forests and unlikely to be conserved in shade coffee farms.

Qualitative profiling and relative quantitative analysis of compounds in light-harvested and shading-treated sumac (Toxicodendron vernicifluum) leaves and their antibacterial activity

Sumac ( Toxicodendron vernicifluum ) is a highly valuable industrial tree species. The leaves are rich in secondary metabolites such as urushiol and flavonoids , which have a wide range of industrial uses. In this study, HPLC-QTOF-MS/MS was used to analyze the compounds in the ethyl acetate extracts of light-harvested and shading-treated sumac leaves. A total of 110 compounds were identified, including 10 urushiol compounds, 57 flavonoids and 43 other compounds. Most of the compounds were not reported in sumac to date. Light was an important environmental factor correlated with the presence of different compound categories and their relative content. The content of all the urushiol compounds in shading-treated leaves decreased compared with the light-harvested leaves, while the content of 33 flavonoids and the total flavonoid content in shading-treated leaves increased. The content of most alkaloids and terpenoids in shading-treated leaves was lower than the light-harvested leaves. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) assays showed that extracts from sumac leaves had obviously antibacterial activity, although the antibacterial activity of the shading-treated leaves was decreased. This study offers a new perspective for regulating the synthesis of substances through light management to enable the full utilization of sumac leaf resources. • Urushiol(triene) was the most abundant compound in Toxicodendron vernicifluum leaves. • 110 compounds were identified in sumac leaves and most were first reported in sumac. • Shading treatment decreased the urushiol content and increased flavonoids content. • The extracts from Toxicodendron vernicifluum leaves had strong antibacterial activity.

Pengaruh tata elemen fisik terhadap pola aktivitas pengunjung pada Taman Lila Ulangun di sempadan Sungai Oongan Denpasar

The river border arrangement can be used as a place for public activities, which one is the Lila Ulangun Park on the Oongan River (tukad) border, Tonja Village, Denpasar. Previously, this area was an unorganized area that it had minimal activity. With the arrangement on this river border, indirectly invites people or visitors to do activities in here. Activities that occur in Lila Ulangun Park are related to physical element settings. This study aims to identify utilization activity patterns and the influence of the physical setting at Lila Ulangun Park. This study uses descriptive qualitative methods with data collection techniques by means of literature studies, interviews and field observations. The results of this study indicate that the intensity of visitors in the classification of time units looks different where the most activity occurs in the afternoon. From the research results, it was also found that there was a relation between activity and the physical setting of the park as well as the influence of activity. Shade in the form of shady trees, gazebo, accessibility, open space, and lighting are the most influential physical elements in safety and comfort in activities with different time contexts. Researchers provide recommendations in the form of facilities such as gazebos, shade trees, and lighting at several points of the room.

Physiological Response and Tolerance of Genotypes of Shallots (Allium ascalonicum L.) under Shade Stress

This study aims to determine several shallot genotypes' physiological responses and tolerance to shade stress. The experimental design used was a completely randomized design (CRD) consisting of 6 genotypes, namely: G1 (Keta Monca), G2 (Ampenan), G3 (Super Philip), G4 (Thailand Nganjuk), G5 (Bali Karet), G6 (Lokananta). Each treatment was repeated five times. Planting was done using polybags measuring 35x35 cm; each polybag planted two bulbs, 2-3 cm deep, with a spacing of 20x20 cm. Shade treatment used 65.00% parent with a shade height of 2 m, a width of 1.5 m, and a shade length of 3 m. The results of the physiological response research showed that the parameters of N-Total, protein, carbohydrates, and carotenoids showed significant differences in the genotype of shallots and indicated an interaction between treatments. The parameters of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and proline showed no significant difference and no interaction between treatments. The genotypes of shallots sensitive to shade resistance were genotype Super Philip, Thailand Nganjuk, and Bali Karet. The moderate tolerant genotype was Ampenan, and the susceptible genotype was Keta Monca.

Effects of Shade Treatments on Vine Growth and Production of Tubers and Propagules of Japanese Yam (Dioscorea Japonica) in Tea Gardens

Effects of Shade Treatments on Vine Growth and Production of Tubers and Propagules of Japanese Yam (Dioscorea Japonica) in Tea Gardens

Study on Relationship between Shading and Outdoor Air Temperature Based on the Comparison of Two High-Rise Residential Estates with Field Measurements

High-rise residential estates are characterized by high floor area ratios, many floors, and similar green area ratios. Beijing is hot in summer, and shading is an important strategy to improve the outdoor thermal environment of residential estates in summer. With respect to the morphological characteristics of high-rise residential estates, three types of shading were summarized, and their relationships with air temperature were quantified and analyzed. The three types of shading are building–tree integrated shading, building shading, and tree shading. Two residential estates that can represent the morphological characteristics of high-rise residential estates in Beijing were selected for field measurements, and the cooling effects of the three types of shading were obtained by analyzing the measured data. In the same residential estate, the daytime air temperature difference between shaded and un-shaded areas can be 0.5 °C or more. It was found that building–tree integrated shading has the most significant cooling effect, with building shading and tree shading second. The cooling effect of shading decreases with time, with morning shading having the greatest effect, and afternoon shading having the least effect.

The effects of shading devices on outdoor thermal and visual comfort in Southern China during summer

Shading effectively alleviates heat stress caused by heatwaves and urban heat islands. Artificial shading is a viable alternative to urban greenery when tree planting is impracticable. While tree shade has been studied extensively, the effects of shading devices on the microclimate and illuminance are not well understood. To examine the influence of shading devices on outdoor thermal and visual comfort, we conducted on-site meteorological observations and surveys (n = 1272) on a university campus in Guangzhou during the summer of 2018. In ENVI-met simulations, various shading device properties were compared, including materials, transparency, and size. Simulation results indicate that shading devices reduced mean radiant temperature, Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET), and Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI) up to 24.8 °C, 12.0 °C and 5.9 °C, respectively. However, there was a negligible reduction in air temperature and wind speed. Opaque materials and glass covers with 10% transparency decreased illuminance by 73%–83% and 65%–75%, respectively. Moreover, the size threshold for optimal cooling effects differs in locations with different sky view factors and tree shade. Our survey reveals that reducing the illuminance by > 90,000 lux and sun sensation vote from +2.5 to +1 can lower the thermal sensation vote by up to one vote. As shading devices decrease illuminance and thermal indices, the cross-modal effect between visual and thermal comfort would need to be considered in optimizing the design of shading devices. Further observation and numerical simulation of outdoor microclimate and illuminance are necessary to validate this cross-modal effect in other climatic regions.

Potential effects of Cladophora oligoclora Decomposition: Microhabitat variation and Microcystis aeruginosa growth response

Excessive proliferation of filamentous green algae (FGA) is a new ecological problem in lake systems that have not yet reached a steady state. However, knowledge on how FGA decomposition affects the physical and chemical properties of microhabitats, and whether FGA decomposition stimulates the growth of harmful microalgae in the same niche and promotes the formation of harmful algal blooms remains unclear. In this study, we investigated the decomposing effect of a typical FGA, Cladophora oligoclora, on the density and photosynthetic capacity of Microcystis aeruginosa. C. oligoclora decomposition was characterized under different conditions, namely, unshaded and aerobic, unshaded and anoxic, shaded and anaerobic, and shaded and anoxic, which represented different environmental states in the sedimentation process of decaying C. oligoclora mats from water surface to sediment. The shaded and anaerobic treatment significantly decreased the dissolved oxygen and pH of the culture medium by 66.48 % and 7.21 %, respectively, whereas the conductivity and total organic carbon increased by 71.17 and 70.19 times compared with the control group, respectively. This indicated that the decomposing C. oligoclora deposited at the bottom under dark and anaerobic conditions in natural waters had the greatest impact on the lake environment. Further, the cell density of M. aeruginosa was higher than that in the control group with low concentration (10 % of decomposing solution), whereas the cell density and photosynthetic activity decreased significantly at high concentration of the decomposing solution. Fatty acids and phenolic acids were identified as the main Cyanobacteria-inhibiting active substances in the organic acid components of the decomposing solution. Furthermore, phenol, 4-methyl- and indole compounds were active organic lipophilic compounds in the residue and solution of decomposing C. oligoclora were difficult to degrade. Our findings will be valuable for understanding the succession relationships between FGA and cyanobacteria, which have the same niche in lake ecosystems.

Productivity, Morphology and Chemical Composition of Brachiaria spp. Ecotypes, under Two Solar Illumination Intensities, in Yucatan, Mexico

There are mixed reports about the advantages and disadvantages of the presence of shade produced by trees over the understory-growing grasses; thus, it is urgent to test grass species and cultivars with potential to develop in shaded conditions associated with trees that occur in silvopastoral systems. The objective of the present study was to identify Brachiaria spp. ecotypes adapted for cultivation under tree shade, typical of silvopastoral systems. The study was conducted at Kampepen ranch, located 14 km south of Merida, Yucatan, Mexico. A factorial 6 (ecotypes) x 2 (sunlight intensities) treatment structure was used, arranged in split-plot design; with sunlight intensity levels being the plots and ecotypes the subplots, with three replications. The ecotypes were T1: Brachiaria hybrid cv. Mulato II, T2: Brachiaria hybrid cv. Cayman Blend, T3: Brachiaria hybrid cv. Talisman (BR05/1467), T4: Brachiaria hybrid cv. Camello Blend, T5: Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu and T6 (the control): M. maximus cv. Mombasa, while the two sunlight intensity levels were higher and lower sunlight reductions with respect to full sunlight (25% and 50% light transmission with respect to full sunlight, respectively). Variables were plant height, forage yield and chemical composition; leaf, stem and dead material fractions and leaf:stem ratio; plant canopy cover, plant maturity, and growth rate. Significant (p < 0.050) ecotype x sunlight intensity interactions were recorded for most of the studied variables. Independent of the shading levels, ecotype Talisman showed superior performance compared with the other assessed ecotypes, yielding up to 20 ton ha−1 under the highest light intensity, means across light intensities for crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and acid detergent fiber (ADF) of 11.8%, 59.7%, and 34.7%, respectively, and more than 90% plant canopy cover. It is concluded that Talisman has promising characteristics for cultivation under silvopastoral systems, where tree shading is common, in the dry tropics of Yucatan, Mexico.

Trees in silvopastoral systems reduce legume proportion with no consequence for internal N resorption efficiency

AbstractIn legume-based grasslands, legumes supply the sward with nitrogen (N) from biological N2-fixation. Previous studies in silvopastoral systems have emphasized that legume proportions decline near trees which would cause spatial variation in the N supply and the concentration of N in the harvested herbage of grass swards between trees. In natural ecosystems, it was shown that the N resorption efficiency (NRE) was increased by nutrient limitation, hence, near trees where legumes are scarce. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that the NRE is increased near trees and compensates for the loss of legumes with respect to N concentration in live herbage. Two vegetation compositions consisting of legume-based grass swards were analysed across positions between tree lines in an alley cropping system established 5 years prior to this study. Legume proportion declined up to 45% towards the tree line, and also N concentration in live and dead herbage but on average only declined by 15%. As a consequence of a reduced N concentration and also herbage mass close to trees, the N yield decreased by up to 50%. Despite the loss of legumes near trees, the NRE was unaffected by the tree line irrespective of vegetation composition. Further, the results indicate that internal N cycling of managed grass swards in silvopastoral grassland with short defoliation intervals between harvests is of lesser relevance than in unmanaged ecosystems. Legume proportions control the N concentrations of live and dead herbage irrespective of tree shading in silvopastoral systems.

Different photosynthetic adaptation of Zoysia spp. under shading: shade avoidance and shade tolerance response.

Reduction of ambient solar radiation is an important external challenge for plants, which affects photosynthesis and morphogenesis in agroforestry or gardening. As bottomed sessile organisms, turfgrasses have a set of sophisticated photosynthetic strategies to survive and deal with this abiotic stress. Zoysiagrass (Zoysia spp. Willd.) is an important warm-season, perennial turfgrass that tolerates adversity, wear, trampling and extensive management. However, whole photosynthetic characteristics reaction of the zoysiagrass to shade stress have not been described because our knowledge in this area is very limited. In this study, 85% shade treatment was applied to nineteen zoysiagrass genotypes, and morphological observations and extensive determinations on plant heights, photosynthetic pigments, fluorescence dynamic curves among other parameters were made. The results showed that vegetal and photosynthetic responses of zoysiagrass were affected by shade treatment to varying degrees. Further analysis based on the principal component, subordinate function analysis and clustering methodology revealed that different shading response strategies were adopted by zoysia under shade surroundings. They were divided into four categories. The strongest shade-avoidant response strategy was adopted by ‘ZG48’ and ‘WZG59’, which had the largest comprehensive evaluation (D) values, and the stabilized shade-tolerant response was taken on by ‘ZG-3’ and ‘ZG64’, which had the lowest D values. Other varieties applied a medium strategy but with a certain tendency. These findings provide new insights into different shading response tactics of turfgrass: shade avoidance and shade tolerance response, which could be selected for further elucidation of the molecular mechanism of plant adaptation to shade environments.

ShadeMotion: tree shade patterns in coffee and cocoa agroforestry systems

ShadeMotion: tree shade patterns in coffee and cocoa agroforestry systems

Transcriptional analysis of grape in response to weak light stress

Grape (Vitis vinifera L.) in production is frequently exposed to inadequate light, which significantly affects its agronomic traits via inhibiting their physiological, metabolic and developmental processes. To explore the mechanism how the grape plants respond to the weak light stress, we used 'Yinhong' grape and examined their physiology-biochemistry characteristics and transcriptional profile under different levels of weak light stress. The results showed that grape seedlings upon low intensity shading treatments were not significantly affected. As the shading stress intensity was strengthened, the epidermis cells, palisade tissue, and spongy tissue in the leaves were thinner, the intercellular space between the palisade tissue and spongy tissue was larger compared with that of the control, and the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase were decreased gradually. Additionally, the soluble protein content increased and the free proline content decreased gradually. Compared with the control, significant changes in plant photosynthetic characteristics and physiology-biochemistry characteristics were observed under high intensity of shading (80%). RNA-seq data showed that the differentially expressed genes between CK and T2, CK and T4, T2 and T4 were 13 913, 13 293 and 14 943, respectively. Most of the enrichment pathways were closely related with the plant's response to stress. Several signaling pathways in response to stress-resistance, e.g. JA/MYC2 pathway and MAPK signal pathway, were activated under weak light stress. The expression level of a variety of genes related to antioxidation (such as polyphenol oxidase and thioredoxin), photosynthesis (such as phytochrome) was altered under weak light stress, indicating that 'Yinhong' grape may activate the antioxidation related pathways to cope with reactive oxygen species (ROS). In addition, it may activate the expression of photosynthetic pigment and light reaction structural protein to maintain the photosynthesis activity. This research may help better understand the relevant physiological response mechanism and facilitate cultivation of grape seedlings under weak light.

Timber growth, cacao yields, and financial revenues in a long-term experiment of cacao agroforestry systems in northern Honduras

Cacao in Honduras is cultivated under traditional shade tree species (Inga sp., Erythrina sp., Gliricidia sp.), fruit and timber species deliberately planted or selected and managed from natural regeneration. Typically, the shade canopy of these cacao plantations is poorly managed resulting in high tree density and heavy shading, thus affecting cacao yield performance overtime. We assessed 12 cacao plots made up of 15–35 useful timber shade trees with varying spacing 6 × 9, 9 × 9, 8 × 10, and 10 × 12 m. Initially, each plot consisted of three shade components plus cacao. Plantain (Musa x paradisiaca) and madreado (Gliricidia sepium) were used as temporary shade and timber species, were selected as permanent shade. Dasometric data were retrieved to assess growth rates of timber species and cacao yield per plant were recorded to explore the effects of shade cover yield performance and the incidence of main diseases. Specifically, we: a) calculated growth rates and build curves for diameter (DBH), total height (Ht), and commercial volume (Vc) and compared the growing performance with ANOVA and DGC tests; b) run a correlation analysis between shade cover, timber basal area, cocoa yields, and the incidence of monilia and black pod. Statistical differences were found in terms of growth rates among timber species evaluated. Mean annual growth rates were 2.25 cm in DBH, 1 m in Ht, and the standing commercial timber gained was 4.2 m3ha−1year−1. Cocoa yields ranged between 950 and 1,365 kg ha1year1 and were negatively affected by both increased tree cover and timber basal area. Cacao yields were reduced up to 25% when tree cover and tree basal area were over 40% and 10 m2ha−1, respectively. Regardless of timber tree species, no significant effect of tree cover was found on the incidence of cacao diseases. After 22 years, total revenues were determined by the proportion of incomes provided by each component of the agroforestry systems assessed. Five out of 12 timber-based cacao plantations accumulated more than U$95,000 of combined revenues, equivalent to incomes of US$3775 ha−1 year−1. Timber-based cacao plantations are a promising alternative for farm diversification in northern Honduras.