Quality Indicators in Three Coffee Production Agrosystems

Abstract

Healthy soil is a fundamental resource against hunger; it contributes to mitigating climate change and ensures sustainable production. The economic and social importance of coffee requires taking measures to promote its sustainable production. Shaded coffee production systems offer valuable ecosystem services indispensable for product diversification. In this context, we compared the quality of the soil, foliage, and seed of three coffee production systems: under mango shade (CM), under banana shade (CB), and under the full sun (CS). Using principal component analysis, we selected the minimum data set to designate quality indicators. For soil, the quality indicators were pH, cation exchange capacity, N content, the concentration of Ca, Mg, K, Fe, soil moisture, percentage specific conductance, soil penetration resistance and the number of worms. Foliar indicators corresponded to N content, the concentration of K, Ca, Fe, Cu, and Chlorophyll b; and seed indicators were concentration of P, K, Ca, Mg, Zn, and Cu. The soil quality index was moderate in the shaded coffee production systems, but deficient in the CS system. Foliar quality was very high in the CM system, moderate in CB and low in CS. Seed yield was low in the three systems. This research shows the main indicators influencing not only soil quality but also plant and seed nutrition in the three systems. Knowledge of the indices will allow establishing of better agronomic management practices in the shaded systems, improving soil fertility, plant nutrition, and coffee seed quality.