The coffee-mango association promotes favorable soil conditions for better-nourished and higher-yielding plants

• Published in: Agriculture, ecosystems & environment ecosystems & environment, 2023-09, Vol.354, p.108589, Article 108589
• Main Authors: Romero Fernández, Abraham de Jesús, González-Chávez, Ma. del Carmen Ángeles, Herrera Cabrera, Braulio Edgar, Corona Sánchez, Jesús Eulises, Carrillo González, Rogelio
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: aggregate stability; agriculture; agroecology; biomass; calcium; cation exchange capacity; chlorophyll; climate change; Coffee-traditional production systems; environment; exchangeable calcium; fruits; gold; iron; magnesium; nitrogen; nutrient content; nutritional status; organic matter; phosphorus; porosity; potassium; Shade coffee systems; Soil-conservation; Sustainable coffee management; vision
• ISSN: 0167-8809; 1873-2305
• DOI: 10.1016/j.agee.2023.108589

In several countries, coffee is traditionally grown under the shade of large trees; however, the non-shade surface system has increased. Shade cultivation system benefits the soil, helps crops adaption to climate change, and reduces vulnerability. This study aimed to compare the physical, chemical, and biological soil features under coffee production systems: coffee-mango, coffee-banana, and full-sun coffee; to identify the nutritional variation of coffee plants in the three cultivation systems, and to establish recommendations for coffee production associated with other crops. Soil properties varied between the shaded and full-sun systems. The shade coffee systems had different pH, cation exchange capacity, potassium, and nitrogen concentrations, organic matter, carbon-, nitrogen-microbial biomass, and the number of earthworms from the full-sun coffee system. The coffee-mango association showed specific soil (exchangeable calcium, moisture, soil porosity, and aggregate stability index), foliar (calcium, potassium, nitrogen, iron, and chlorophyll a and b concentrations), and grain features (gold coffee yield, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorous concentrations) that make distinct from the other two coffee systems. The coffee-mango system positively influenced soil traits, nutrient concentration in leaves, production, yield, and nutritional status of the fruit. The production of coffee under full-sun adversely affects the soil and the coffee’s nutrition and yield. Therefore, the production of coffee should be in the traditional manner under shade trees. These results apply to coffee production under shade systems in other countries with similar agroecological conditions and to soil conservation as a pertinent vision under global climate change. •Results may help producers for a sustainable coffee management.•The coffee-mango association improved soil characteristics that promote a higher yield.•The coffee-mango production system also increased nutrient concentration in leaves and fruit.•Immediate actions should be taken to preserve soil sustainability under shade coffee systems.