Soil enzymatic activity under coffee cultivation with different water regimes associated to liming and intercropped brachiaria

ABSTRACT: This research evaluated the effects of coffee cultivation with two different water regimes associated or not with liming and the presence/absence of brachiaria as intercrop on the activities of the soil enzymes β-glucosidase, arylsulfatase and acid phosphatase. The study was carried out at the experimental farm of Embrapa Cerrados, using the cultivar IAC 144 (Coffea arabica L.), under a clayey dystrophic Cerrado Oxisol. Two water regimes (WR) were considered, WR1 with irrigation shifts throughout the year and WR3 with controlled water stress, for about 70 days, in the dry season. In each water regime, effects of lime application (with/without) and the presence/absence of brachiaria cultivated between the lines of coffee plants were evaluated. The activities of the enzymes β-glucosidase, arylsulfatase and acid phosphatase were evaluated during the rainy and dry seasons. Liming and intercropped brachiaria positively affected the activities of the three enzymes assessed in this study at varying degrees, depending on season and/or the WR. Our findings evidenced that intercropped brachiaria in coffee rows was the factor that most positively impacted soil enzymes activities.

Consistency of attack level of coffee berry borer (Hypotenemus hampei Ferr.) on organic and conventional arabica coffee plantation in Aceh Tengah District, Aceh Province, Indonesia

A study has been conducted for 3 consecutive years since 2019 to 2021 to investigate the influence of cultivation system of Arabica coffee against the attack of the coffee berry borer (Hypothenemus hampei Ferr.) in Arabica coffee plantations in Aceh Tengah District, Aceh Province, Indonesia. We observed the attack level of H. hampei on Arabica coffee plants that were cultivated both organically and conventionally. The results showed that for three years observation, in general, the attack level of coffee berry borer (CBB) on organic and conventional coffee plantations was not significantly different. Observations in 2019 showed that the attack level of CBB on organic coffee plantations ranged from 27-34 % and on conventional coffee plantations ranging from 33-49 %. Observations in 2020 showed that the attack rate of CBB on organic and conventional coffee ranged from 20-40 % and 28-41%, respectively, while observations in 2021 were 25-26 % and 27-28 %. The results of these studies indicate that the level of CBB attack on organic coffee plantations is no different from conventional coffee plantations that routinely use synthetic pesticides. This indicates that in organic coffee plantations, natural enemies have played an important role in suppressing the development of CBB populations. Although the use of synthetic pesticides in conventional coffee plantations can suppress pest populations, it is suspected that these pesticides also play a role in reducing the population of natural enemies of pests. Therefore, organic coffee cultivation is much more profitable, especially it can reduce the cost of buying synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, besides ensuring the safety of coffee farmers, workers, and consumers from harmful chemical contamination from pesticides.

Does Shade Impact Coffee Yield, Tree Trunk, and Soil Moisture on Coffea canephora Plantations in Mondulkiri, Cambodia?

Shade is a natural condition for coffee plants; however, unshaded plantations currently predominate in Asia. The benefits of shading increase as the environment becomes less favorable for coffee cultivation, e.g., because of climate change. It is necessary to determine the effects of shade on the yield of Coffea canephora and on the soil water availability. Therefore, three coffee plantations (of 3, 6, and 9 ha) in the province of Mondulkiri, Cambodia, were selected to evaluate the effect of shade on Coffea canephora yields, coffee bush trunk changes, and soil moisture. Our study shows that shade-grown coffee delivers the same yields as coffee that is grown without shading in terms of coffee bean weight or size (comparing average values and bean variability), the total weight of coffee fruits per coffee shrub and the total weight of 100 fruits (fresh and dry). Additionally, fruit ripeness was not influenced by shade in terms of variability nor in terms of a possible delay in ripening. There was no difference in the coffee stem diameter changes between shaded and sunny sites, although the soil moisture was shown to be higher throughout the shaded sites.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ADVANTAGES OF COFFEE FARMING WITH DIFFERENT CULTIVATION SYSTEMS AND PLANTING DISTANCES

Coffee plants in general are one of the plantation commodities that are suitable for smallholder plantations because they can produce fruit throughout the year. Coffee production can be used as a source of daily or weekly income for the community. The problem in the upstream subsystem is that the productivity of Indonesian coffee plants is still below its normal potential and tends to decrease. One of the reasons for this low productivity is the cultivation system, starting from maintenance, pruning and fertilizing, as well as plant spacing. The difference in treatment in the coffee cultivation system will also affect the profits that will be obtained by farmers. This study aims to analyze the differences in the profits of coffee farming with a spacing of 2.5 x 2.5 m with a spacing of 1.5 x 1.5 m and different cultivation systems. This research uses descriptive quantitative method using profit analysis and profit difference test. The results showed that the spacing of 1.5 x 1.5 m is more profitable than the spacing of 2.5 x 2.5 m. This happened because the population per hectare at a spacing of 1.5 x 1.5 m was 4,444 plants accompanied by very intensive care, while at a spacing of 2.5 x 2.5 m the population was only 1,600 plants. The follow-up to the results of this research will be submitted to the Sinta-2 journal by preparing articles according to the format given to the journal in question. This happened because the population per hectare at a spacing of 1.5 x 1.5 m was 4,444 plants accompanied by very intensive care, while at a spacing of 2.5 x 2.5 m the population was only 1,600 plants. The follow-up to the results of this research will be submitted to the Sinta-2 journal by preparing articles in accordance with the format given to the journal in question. This happened because the population per hectare at a spacing of 1.5 x 1.5 m was 4,444 plants accompanied by very intensive care, while at a spacing of 2.5 x 2.5 m the population was only 1,600 plants. The follow-up to the results of this research will be submitted to the Sinta-2 journal by preparing articles in accordance with the format given to the journal in question.

Analysis of agroforestry tree species composition and coffee cultivation production tropical highlands, Aceh Tengah - Indonesia

Agroforestry system is a mixed plantation between cultivation planting and tree species in a forest land area. Coffee with a shade tree is commonly found out as an agroforestry system in Aceh Tengah highlands. Many farmers choose tree species suit for coffee to support coffee productivity. This research aimed to identify the planting of shade trees and coffee; what kinds of species mainly be grown by farmers. The research found that most farmers prefer to plant Leucaena leucocephala than other species causes the benefit of Leucaena leucocephala species. Coffee farmers should use trees as a protective crop to increase the total coffee production. Use Leucaena leucocephala as a protective tree because Leucaena leucocephala root contains rhizobium, helping coffee production.

Agro-Ecological Management of Coffee Pests in Brazil

Coffee plants host several herbivorous species, but only few are considered pests. Brazil is the largest coffee producer of the world, and the two key coffee pests of the crop in the country are the coffee leaf miner Leucoptera coffeella and the coffee berry borer Hypothenemus hampei. However, in some regions or on specific conditions, species of mites and scales can also cause damage to coffee plants. Conventional management of coffee pests relies on chemical pesticides, and it is the most commonly used strategy in Brazil, but environmental problems, pest resistance, and toxicity-related issues have led coffee growers to search for alternatives for pest control. Agro-ecological strategies suitable to coffee cultivation can be adopted by farmers, based on plant diversification, in order to provide resources for natural enemies, such as nectar, pollen, shelter, microclimate conditions, and oviposition sites, thereby promoting conservation biological control. Here I revise these strategies and report the results from research in Brazil. I include results on agroforestry, use of cover crops, and non-crop plant management. These are complemented by curative measures based on the use of organic farming-approved pesticides that can be employed when the agro-ecological practices are not yet consolidated. I also present the cultural control method used by several coffee producers in Brazil to decrease coffee berry borer damage.

Strategies for Coffee Leaf Rust Management in Organic Crop Systems

Coffee is a crop of great economic importance in many countries. The organic coffee crop stands out from other production systems by aiming to eliminate the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. One of the most important limitations in the organic system is the management of diseases, especially coffee rust, which is considered the main disease of this crop. Coffee rust causes a production slump of up to 50%, significantly affecting the profitability of coffee growers. This work aims to review the integrated rust management in organic coffee crop in different producing countries. Regarding the disease management strategies, this review addresses the use of rust-resistant cultivars, cultural management, biological control, use of plant extracts, and chemical rust control by cupric fungicides. Considering the importance of the organic system, the increase in world coffee consumption, and the potential market for this kind of coffee, this review may help researchers and producers looking for alternative strategies to control rust in an organic coffee cultivation system.

A Study on Economics of Coffee (Coffea arabica) Plantation in Nagaland, India

The present study was conducted for estimating the economics of coffee plantation in Nagaland. Three districts were selected, and 60 respondents were interviewed from the selected districts. Selection of respondents was carried out with the help of snowball sampling method. Snowball sampling method was used due to limitation of secondary data on coffee farmers and the uneven distribution of coffee farmers. The cost of coffee cultivation was estimated by using different cost concepts used in farm management studies. This study revealed that total establishment cost of coffee was Rs. 22,271/- per acre. The gestation period of arabica coffee found as 4 years for the present study, thereafter the maintenance stage begins with an annual maintenance cost of Rs. 17,762/- per acre. Average yield reported in the study area was 229 kg/acre and making a gross income of Rs. 45,868 /- per acre. The net return worked out as Rs 28,106/- per acre / annum. The productivity of coffee was found as lower than the national average, which maybe as a result of poor availability of labour, the plantations are rainfed and organic by default, therefore absence of fertilizer input may attribute to low productivity. The cost as well as the yield was found lower in the marginal category and increased as the plantation size increases, this may be due to the absence of competitiveness and poor technical knowledge on the management of the plantation among the marginal growers. However having a return to scale value of 1.03 and benefit cost ratio of 1.6, it was cleared that the coffee plantation in Nagaland is profitable and can be undertaken in a commercial scale.