Biophysical Interactions Between Timber Trees and Arabica Coffee in Suboptimal Conditions of Central America

Especially in the less favorable areas (altitude 25 °C) that predominate in Central America, there is a renewed interest in managing Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica L.) under shade after three decades of promoting intensively managed coffee systems planted in full sun with highly productive dwarf cultivars. The presence of shade trees, especially leguminous species, improves soil fertility (organic matter content and nutrient cycling) and enhances coffee plantation sustainability (Beer et al., 1998; Soto-Pinto et al., 2000). In suboptimal coffee producing areas with low altitude, shade trees greatly reduce excessive solar irradiance and buffer large diurnal variations in air temperature and humidity that are detrimental to coffee physiology (Gutiérrez et al., 1994; Siles and Vaast, 2002). In mountainous areas, associated trees decrease soil erosion and nutrient leaching, especially nitrogen (Babbar and Zak, 1995). Therefore, shade trees play an important role in the Central American region due to the valuable impact of coffee agroforestry (AF) systems on the environment and natural resources such as preservation of biodiversity, soil conservation, water quality, buffering effect around protected areas, reduced pressure on forests, and carbon sequestration (Somarriba et al., 2004). In this region with a long-lasting reputation for commercializing quality coffee, shade can also contribute to the production of high-quality coffee as demonstrated in Guatemala (Guyot et al., 1996), Costa Rica (Muschler, 2001), and Honduras (Decazy et al., 2003). Nonetheless, trees associated to coffee are mainly legume species (Erythrina spp. and Inga spp.) with no timber values that are pruned periodically to avoid large decreases in coffee production due to competition for light, nutrients and water during the dry period (Beer et al., 1998). Indeed, timber trees are less common in coffee AF systems of Central America despite the fact that timber could greatly help farmers to diversify their income.

...Actually, the stomatal limitations are associated with a strong stomatal sensitivity to increasing leaf-to-air vapor pressure deficit (VPDl) along the day (Ronquim et al. 2006; Vaast et al. 2007) and result in large reductions of An, particularly in the afternoon (DaMatta and Ramalho 2006)...
...Under suboptimal (hotter and drier) growing conditions, coffee production in full sun is lower than in the shade (De Freitas et al. 2003; van Kanten and Vaast 2006) which has been related to the high sensitivity of coffee gs to VPDl (DaMatta and Ramalho 2006; Ronquim et al. 2006; Vaast et al. 2007)...
...As shade trees reduce wind speed and leaf temperature while increasing air humidity, and hence reducing VPDl and the stomatal limitations of coffee An, agroforestry systems have been recommended for suboptimal growing conditions (DaMatta 2004; DaMatta et al. 2007; Vaast et al. 2007)...
...However, agroforestry systems have other benefits such as (1) positive financial impacts by the reduction of biennial bearing and by the generation of extra income from associated trees (fruit, fuel wood and timber) and (2) the enhanced conservation of natural resources and biodiversity (Beer et al. 1998; Vaast et al. 2007)...
...The observed reduction in gs with increasing GI (Fig. 1) is consistent with the lower gs values previously measured in sun coffee leaves as compared to shade leaves (Chaves et al. 2008; Fanjul et al. 1985; Vaast et al. 2007; van Kanten and Vaast 2006)...
...principally observed for higher GI levels at MM and PM (Fig. 5), confirming the high sensitivity of gs to VPDl (Fig. 1) of coffee leaves (DaMatta and Ramalho 2006; Ronquim et al. 2006; Vaast et al. 2007)...
...1, 5e). Actually, as shade levels increased, the typical daily pattern of An showing higher levels in the morning and low levels from noon onwards (Ronquim et al. 2006; Vaast et al. 2007) presently observed in GI100, progressively evolved into a ‘‘bell shaped’’ pattern with highest values at noon in GI19 (Fig. 1e)...

Keywords (15)

Biophysical Interactions Between Timber Trees and Arabica Coffee in Suboptimal Conditions of Central America,10.1007/978-1-4020-6572-9_9,P. Vaast,R. v

Citation Context (1)

Nicolás Franck, et al. Limitation of coffee leaf photosynthesis by stomatal conductance and l...

References (6)

Nitrogen Loss from Coffee Agroecosystems in Costa Rica: Leaching and Denitrification in the Presence and Absence of Shade Trees (Citations: 24)

Shade management in coffee and cacao plantations (Citations: 128)

Shade improves coffee quality in a sub-optimal coffee-zone of Costa Rica (Citations: 39)

Production and turnover of N 2 fixing nodules in relation to foliage development in periodically pruned Erythrina poeppigiana (Leguminosae) trees (Citations: 24)

Fruit thinning and shade improve bean characteristics and beverage quality of coffee (Coffea arabica L.) under optimal conditions (Citations: 24)

Citations (3)

Effects of Inga densiflora on the microclimate of coffee ( Coffea arabica L.) and overall biomass under optimal growing conditions in Costa Rica (Citations: 4)

Limitation of coffee leaf photosynthesis by stomatal conductance and light availability under different shade levels (Citations: 2)

Production scientifique de l'UPR 80 Janvier 2005 - Juin 2009 « Fonctionnement et Pilotage des Ecosystèmes de Plantations


	The following links allow you to view full publications. These links are maintained by other sources not affiliated with Microsoft Academic Search.


	BibTex \| RIS \| RefWorks Download