Coffee agroforestry systems: approaches for the characterization of shade and microclimate in Loja, Ecuador
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| Autores: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | artículo original |
| Status: | Versión publicada |
| Fecha de Publicación: | 2025 |
| Beskrivelse: | Introduction. Coffee cultivation in Ecuador plays a crucial role in social, economic, environmental, and cultural aspects. In Loja province, Coffea arabica production is distinguished by its high quality, attributed to both the geographical conditions and the cultivation practices under agroforestry systems (AFS) with different management approaches. Objective. To assess the composition, diversity, and importance value of shade tree species, and to identify the microclimatic conditions within coffee agroforestry systems. Materials and methods. The research was conducted in three coffee-producing areas of Loja, Ecuador, using 20 × 30 m plots monitored from November 2017 to April 2019. The importance value index (IVI), Shannon-Wiener, and Simpson indices were calculated. Microclimatic variables, including ambient temperature (°C), relative humidity (%), wind speed (m s⁻¹), and canopy cover percentage (%), were recorded both inside and outside the AFS. Pearson correlation analysis was used to examine relationships between microclimatic variables, number of shade-providing individuals, and their importance value. Results. The coffee-growing areas exhibited significant arboreal diversity in terms of families, genera, and shade tree species, with Citrus and Inga as predominant genera. Microclimate modifications were evident, with temperature differences (ranging from −4.23 °C to 2.23 °C) and relative humidity variations (ranging from 0 % to 10.54 %) compared to full-sun exposed areas. Conclusions. Coffee AFS modify environmental conditions between the interior and exterior of the evaluated areas, with variations directly influenced by canopy species within the systems. |
| País: | Portal de Revistas UCR |
| Institution: | Universidad de Costa Rica |
| Repositorio: | Portal de Revistas UCR |
| Sprog: | Español Inglés |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:portal.revistas.ucr.ac.cr:article/2443 |
| Online adgang: | https://revistas.ucr.ac.cr/index.php/ragromeso/article/view/2443 |
| Palabra clave: | coffee floristic diversity shade tree species climatic differences diversity indices café diversidad florística especies de sombra diferencias climáticas índices de diversidad |