Climate friendliness of cocoa agroforests is compatible with productivity increase

Schroth, Götz; Jeusset, Arzhvaël; Gomes, Andréa da Silva; Florence, Ciro Tavares; Coelho, Núbia Aparecida Pinto; Faria, Deborah; Läderach, Peter

doi:10.1007/s11027-014-9570-7

Cited by 48 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Canopy openness above and below the cocoa canopy was within the range of reported studies (Dietz et al 2006;Abou Rajab et al 2016;Schroth et al 2016). A shade tree cover of 30-40% is mentioned as critical to balance the trade-off between yield and ecosystem services (Clough et al 2011).…”

Section: Pruning Increases Temporal Dynamics By Rapidly Reducing Systsupporting

confidence: 56%

“…Differences can be explained by the age of the plantations, i.e., a young plantation in our study, in combination with the high planting density of shade trees in our trial. A lower planting density may also imply more large shade trees with higher diameter (Schroth et al 2016). This was already the case in the agroforestry system in comparison to the successional agroforestry system.…”

Section: Structure and Development Of Cocoa Production Systemsmentioning

confidence: 89%

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Shade trees and tree pruning alter throughfall and microclimate in cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) production systems

Niether

Armengot

Andrés

et al. 2018

Annals of Forest Science

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& Key message Shade trees in agroforestry systems protect the understory cocoa from climate extremes. Shade tree pruning manages microclimatic conditions in favor of cocoa production while tree diversity is maintained. Adaptation of pruning has to consider seasonal changes in temperature and precipitation to protect the understory cocoa. & Context Structural characteristics of tree stands such as species diversity, tree density, and stratification can affect throughfall and microclimate. Pruning changes the canopy and may therefore modulate internal conditions. & Aims The aim of this study is to assess the environmental growing conditions of cocoa trees. & Methods We monitored canopy openness and the impact of stand structure on throughfall and microclimate in three cocoa production systems (monoculture, agroforestry, and successional agroforestry) and a natural regrowth in a long-term trial in Bolivia from 2013 to 2015. We further focused on the effect of annual shade tree and cocoa pruning on these variables to evaluate the potential impact of this activity. & Results Agroforestry systems buffered extreme climate events like temperature fluctuations compared to monocultures but reduced light and throughfall drastically. Spatial variability of throughfall and transmitted light were low under a high and closed shade tree canopy. Shade tree pruning resulted in higher canopy openness, light transmittance, and throughfall, while the buffer function of the agroforestry systems concerning temperature and humidity fluctuations was reduced. & Conclusion Differences between cocoa production systems regarding throughfall and microclimate were overlain by pruning activities. Cocoa agroforestry systems are temporal dynamic systems. Pruning timing and intensity is pivotal for balancing light and water availability under seasonally varying environmental conditions to conserve micro-environments for cocoa production with less exposure to unfavorable climate.

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Section: Pruning Increases Temporal Dynamics By Rapidly Reducing Systsupporting

confidence: 56%

Section: Structure and Development Of Cocoa Production Systemsmentioning

confidence: 89%

Shade trees and tree pruning alter throughfall and microclimate in cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) production systems

Niether

Armengot

Andrés

et al. 2018

Annals of Forest Science

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“…They conclude that an additional payment for off-farm environmental and ecosystem services at a rate of US$250 per ha would make agroforestry management attractive enough to stimulate adoption by farmers as part of a biological corridor scheme. Other forms of certification (such as organic) have been shown to result in higher crop prices to farmers while also providing incentives for the maintenance of a permanent tree shade canopy in the cultivation of cocoa and bananas (Hinojosa et al 2003;Schroth et al 2014). These recent studies highlight the need for better assessing the long-term effects of implementing good practices, including agroforestry, developed by eco-certification schemes across a wide range of ecological and socio-economical contexts as identified recently in a workshop on cocoa certification in Zurich (ICCO 2014b).…”

Section: Shade Trees and Their Contributionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trade-offs between crop intensification and ecosystem services: the role of agroforestry in cocoa cultivation

2014

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Research published in this special issue on cocoa agroforestry illustrates the multifunctional role of shade trees for sustaining cocoa production and improving farmers' livelihoods, and addresses tradeoffs between higher cocoa yield and the provision of ecosystem services to local households and global society. Indeed, the use of diverse shade in cocoa cultivation is threatened by a new drive towards crop intensification.

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“…Farmers retain and plant a large number of tree species to provide shade and shelter to cocoa trees and help sustain high cacao yields (Koko et al, 2013;Anglaaere et al, 2011;Somarriba and Beer, 2011;Bos et al, 2007). Trees in the cacao shade canopy also produce timber, fruits and other goods for either family consumption or sale Somarriba, 2007); generate income Oke and Odebiyi, 2007); conserve biodiversity at the plot and landscape levels (de Beenhouwer et al, 2013;Clough et al, 2011;Stenchly et al, 2012); increase landscape connectivity Asare et al, 2014); sequester carbon Abou Rajab et al, 2016;Schroth et al, 2016;Jadan et al, 2015;Jacobi et al, 2014;Norgrove and Hauser, 2013;Leuschner et al, 2013;Oke and Olatiilu, 2011;Wade et al, 2010;Smiley and Kroschel, 2008); enhance the pollination of cocoa (Toledo-Hernández et al, 2017;Frimpong et al, 2011); sustain soil fertility (Mortimer et al, 2017;Rousseau et al, 2012;Moço et al, 2010); and reduce farmers' vulnerability to the effect of extreme climatic events Läderach et al, 2013).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analysis and design of the shade canopy of cocoa-based agroforestry systems

Chávez¹,

Aguilar²,

Bustillos³

et al. 2018

Burleigh Dodds Series in Agricultural Science

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Cocoa-based agroforestry (AF) systems are a conspicuous element of agricultural landscapes worldwide. Shade canopy analysis and design is a key component of crop husbandry, and requires a good understanding of the interactions, synergies and trade-offs between shade, yield and environmental services. In this chapter we provide a guide and some principles to analyse and design an optimal shade canopy that provides a diverse, resilient AF system. We first review the different cocoa system typologies described in the literature, placing special emphasis on cocoa–timber systems. We present a guide for the analysis of the shade canopy of shaded cocoa systems, and then investigate the optimal design for cocoa shade canopies, with emphasis on the analysis of trade-offs and synergies between carbon storage and cocoa yields. Finally, we consider critical issues in applying AF science/knowledge to cocoa cultivation programmes.

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Climate friendliness of cocoa agroforests is compatible with productivity increase

Cited by 48 publications

References 18 publications

Shade trees and tree pruning alter throughfall and microclimate in cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) production systems

Shade trees and tree pruning alter throughfall and microclimate in cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) production systems

Trade-offs between crop intensification and ecosystem services: the role of agroforestry in cocoa cultivation

Analysis and design of the shade canopy of cocoa-based agroforestry systems

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