SHADE TREES AND INTENSITY OF MANAGEMENT AFFECT YIELD OF COFFEE (Coffea arabica L.) AND THE ECOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT IN MASATEPE, NICARAGUA

Abstract

The study was carried out in the community of Masatepe, department of Masaya, Nicaragua where in 2000 a longterm coffee experiment was established with two repetitions in the Centro de Capacitación y Servicios Regionales del Café del Pacífico Sur (Jardín Botánico) part of the Unión Nicaragüense de Cafetaleros (UNICAFE) and a third repetition in the Centro Experimental de Campos Azules (CECA) of the INTA. The purpose of the research was to study the production, yield and quality of green coffee under the influence from different shade types and levels of fertilization and their correlation. Another purpose was to investigate the effect of the different agro ecosystems on the environmental conditions. Predominantly the production is less with cultivation under shade but it offers better conversion from cherries to green coffee and quality compared to cropping systems with full sun. Also the different shade tree species affect both production and environmental services. Coffee cultivation with regulated shade cover and adequate tree species combined with organic fertilization can achieve the same production level as cultivation at full sun with synthetic fertilizers. The combination of Simarouba glauca/Tabebuia rosea (SGTR) and the intensive organic fertilization results as the best treatment regarding the principal variables with an average production of 2674 kg oro ha-1 in the fifth crop (higher even than the full sun with a high level of synthetic fertilization). Furthermore, this kind of agroforestry system with regulated shade improves the quality and the conditions of the ecosystems and creates additional value from the shade trees (wood, firewood, fruits) and payments for environmental services. The shade SGTR offered the best conditions for the environment and the conservation of the soil, but with respect to the capture of carbon dioxide, with shade from Simanea saman + Inga laurina surpasses the other treatments containing 92.4 t C ha-1 against only 24.4 t C ha-1 in SGTR, or 4.7 t C ha-1 in full sun coffee. Further investigations should focus on effect, benefit and ecological value of different shade tree species and their influence in the cup quality, also considering different altitudes. In addition greater awareness of the ecological issues needs to be developed from the farmer up to the consumer.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/calera.v11i17.776

La Calera Vol.11 No.17, p.41-47