Arabica coffee–macadamia intercropping: Yield and profitability with mechanized coffee harvesting

Abstract

Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica L.)–macadamia (Macadamia integrifolia Maiden & Betche) intercropping presents benefits at the initial phase; however, coffee yields gradually decline because of shading, and mechanized coffee harvesting may be impeded by the growth of macadamia trees. An experiment was conducted under irrigated conditions in southeastern Brazil to evaluate whether coffee–macadamia intercropping and the use of pruning to allow mechanized coffee harvesting offers agronomic and economic advantages over continuously cropped coffee monoculture (monocropped coffee). In addition, we aimed to evaluate which macadamia cultivar (Hawaiian cultivars; HAES 344, HAES 660, and HAES 816; Brazilian cultivars: IAC 9–20, IAC 4–12B, and IAC 4–20) is most suitable for long‐term intercropping with mechanized coffee harvesting. Hawaiian macadamia cultivars have a narrower canopy, requiring less pruning of the lateral branches to allow the traffic of the mechanical coffee harvester. The macadamia cultivar IAC 4–12B had the highest kernel yield and IAC 4–20 had the lowest yield. Because intercropped treatments have 33.3% fewer coffee plants and their production per plant was reduced by shading, the coffee yield in these treatments was on average 38% lower than that in monocropped coffee. However, due to the sale of the macadamia kernel, coffee–macadamia intercropping was economically superior to coffee monoculture. Depending on the macadamia cultivar, the economic benefit of intercropping was from 9% (IAC 4–20) to 206% (HAES 816 and IAC 4–12B) higher than that achieved with monocrop coffee cultivation.

Roadmapping as a Driver for Knowledge Creation: A Proposal for Improving Sustainable Practices in the Coffee Supply Chain from Chiapas, Mexico, Using Emerging Technologies

“…In relation with other studies, the economy benefits brought on by the management of additional crops in the coffee area are evidenced in the study done by [104], in the use of macadamia intercropping; the family members/age and sustainable practices relationship are demonstrated in [105] by detecting an average age similar to that in this study. .…”

Use of organic fertilization with irrigation in coffee production in brazilian cerrado

“…However, the irrigation does not always follow correct sizing and management standards (Santinato and Fernandes, 2012). According to (Perdoná and Soratto, 2020), coffee can provide the farmer with a net result of 2,600.00 USD year -1 , a value similar to that found by (Fernandes et al, 2016), and which seems to be very satisfactory.…”

Macadamia intercropping into an inefficient adult coffee plantation is economically advantageous

“…The results obtained are uncompetitive and economically unfeasible because Brazilian coffee plantations can yield above $2,200 ha −1 yr −1 (Fernandes, Tavares, Ferreira, & Santinato, 2016; Perdoná & Soratto, 2020). The results are also low compared with the adult Arabica coffee–macadamia intercropping, when they can reach $7,826 ha −1 yr −1 (Perdoná & Soratto, 2020).…”

“…The results obtained are uncompetitive and economically unfeasible because Brazilian coffee plantations can yield above $2,200 ha −1 yr −1 (Fernandes, Tavares, Ferreira, & Santinato, 2016;Perdoná & Soratto, 2020). The results are also low compared with the adult Arabica coffee-macadamia intercropping, when they can reach $7,826 ha −1 yr −1 (Perdoná & Soratto, 2020). The costs of implanting macadamia seedlings were higher in treatments that demanded greater use of labor (pruning or removal of coffee trees) and in arrangements with greater density of macadamia trees because of the cost of macadamia seedlings.…”

“…Although positive, this economic result is considered low for the Arabica coffee crop, as it requires a lot of infrastructure, machinery, and working capital, with a production cost of approximately $3,719 ha −1 yr −1 (CONAB, 2019; Gomes & Rosado, 2005). The results obtained are uncompetitive and economically unfeasible because Brazilian coffee plantations can yield above $2,200 ha −1 yr −1 (Fernandes, Tavares, Ferreira, & Santinato, 2016;Perdoná & Soratto, 2020). The results are also low compared with the adult Arabica coffee-macadamia intercropping, when they can reach $7,826 ha −1 yr −1 (Perdoná & Soratto, 2020).…”