Disentangling effects of altitude and shade cover on coffee fruit dynamics and vegetative growth in smallholder coffee systems

Sarmiento-Soler Alejandra, Rötter Reimund P., Hoffmann Munir P., Jassogne Laurence, Van Asten Piet J.A., Graefe Sophie, Vaast Philippe. 2022. Disentangling effects of altitude and shade cover on coffee fruit dynamics and vegetative growth in smallholder coffee systems. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, 326:107786, 16 p.

Résumé : Increases in temperature and more erratic rainfall patterns due to climate change threaten the already fragile livelihood of smallholder coffee farmers. Shaded coffee in agroforestry systems appear to be a good alternative to protect coffee from extreme temperatures while providing additional ecosystem services, such as extra food and soil protection. However, excessive shade might reduce coffee yields. This study analyzed the effect of shade cover (shade type represented by cropping system (Coffee-Open (CO), Coffee-Banana (CB), Coffee-shade tree (CT))), and shade intensity (represented by leaf area index of the shade cover) along an altitude gradient on: (i) microclimate, (ii) soil water content and (iii) coffee reproductive and vegetative growth. Data was collected during two coffee fruit development cycles (2015 and 2016) in smallholder coffee farms (n = 27) on the west slopes of Mt. Elgon Uganda. Shade cover buffered coffee trees from microclimate extremes (maximum temperature (- 3 °C) and temperature amplitude - 3 °C). Fruit set decreased with shade cover increases. Leaf set was shown to be the most important variable for vegetative and reproductive growth along several production cycles, and fruit drop was determined mainly by fruit set. Intermediated shade cover (LAI ~ 1 m2 m−2), as occurred in coffee intercropped with bananas, showed an optimal balance between microclimate regulations, fruit set, and fruit drop, and provided staple food and an extra source of income.

Mots-clés Agrovoc : agroforesterie, arbre d'ombrage, Coffea arabica, ombrage, changement climatique, services écosystémiques, altitude, système de culture, systèmes agroforestiers, chute de fruit, petit agriculteur, rendement des cultures, microclimat

Mots-clés géographiques Agrovoc : Ouganda, Costa Rica

Mots-clés libres : Arabica coffee, Fruit development cycle, Fruit set, Fruit drop, Climate Change, Vegetative growth, Agroforestry, Coffee

Agences de financement hors UE : Bundesministerium für Wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung

Auteurs et affiliations

• Sarmiento-Soler Alejandra, Georg-August University of Göttingen (DEU) - auteur correspondant
• Rötter Reimund P., Georg-August University of Göttingen (DEU)
• Hoffmann Munir P., Georg-August University of Göttingen (DEU)
• Jassogne Laurence, IITA (UGA)
• Van Asten Piet J.A., IITA (UGA)
• Graefe Sophie, Georg-August University of Göttingen (DEU)
• Vaast Philippe, CIRAD-PERSYST-UMR Eco&Sols (VNM)

Source : Cirad-Agritrop (https://agritrop.cirad.fr/606428/)

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