Agroforestry systems can play an important role in mitigating the effects of climate change given their capacity to increase tree diversity and to store more carbon than conventional farming. This study aims at assessing carbon stocks and the use of shade trees in different coffee growing systems in the Northeast Peruvian Amazon. Carbon stocks in trees were estimated by field-based measurements and allometric equations. Carbon stocks in dead wood, litter and soil (upper 60 cm) were determined using field sampling and laboratory analysis. The diversity analysis drew on the Shannon–Weiner diversity index, and focus groups were used to obtain information about the local use of shade trees. The total carbon stock in the polyculture-shaded coffee system was 189 t C/ha, while the Inga-shaded and unshaded systems totalled 146 and 113 t C/ha, respectively. The soil compartment contributed the largest carbon stock in the coffee growing systems and contained 67, 82 and 96% of the total carbon stock in the polyculture-shaded, Inga-shaded and unshaded coffee systems, respectively. The Shannon–Weiner index and tree species richness values were highest for the polyculture-shaded coffee system, with a total of 18 tree species identified as important sources of fodder, food, wood, firewood and medicine. Therefore, coffee agroforestry systems play a significant role in carbon storage, while promoting conservation of useful trees in agricultural landscapes in the Peruvian Amazon.

Avaliação sensorial de quatro cultivares de café (Coffea arabica L.), cultivadas em altitudes diferentes da região San Martín -Peru

No abstract

Se evalúan las respuestas en campo de clones de café a la inoculación con consorcios de hongos micorrízicos arbusculares (HMA) y la aplicación de diferentes dosis de compost en clones de café (variedad Caturra) en condiciones de campo. Los clones de café micorrizados y aclimatados fueron instalados en campo definitivo considerando un diseño en bloque completamente al azar (DBCA) con arreglo factorial: factor A (3 inóculos de HMA y un testigo sin inóculo) y factor B (2 dosis de compost y un tratamiento control sin compost), con 3 bloques. Se evaluó, 295 días después de la siembra, la altura de plantas, número de ramas, longitud de micelio extraradical, colonización micorrízica y número de esporas. Los resultados indican diferencias estadísticas significativas en todos los consorcios de HMA y dosis de compost evaluados. Por lo tanto, el estudio muestra que la inoculación de plantas clonales de café con consorcios AMF y la aplicación de compost tiene efectos positivos en el desarrollo morfológico de las plantas de café.

Coffee (Coffea arabica) is one of the most important tropical crops in the world, and root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp.) infections are one of the main factors that negatively affect crop yields throughout the South American region. This study aimed to evaluate the role of indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi against root-knot nematode infections in coffee plants grown under different soil conditions in the Peruvian Amazon. The experimental design was a 3A × 2B × 4C factorial scheme with 24 treatments. Each experimental unit consisted of six coffee plants, with three replicates in randomized blocks, totaling 18 coffee plants per treatment. The studied factors were soil conditions (A), types of coffee propagation (B), and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi consortia (C). The data were statistically examined by three-way analysis of variance, and the Tukey HSD test was applied for multiple comparisons of group means. Mycorrhiza-induced tolerance was confirmed against root-knot nematodes, as the severity of infection was significantly lower in mycorrhizal roots, with an average reduction of 52.5%, 38.5% and 38.3% in coffee plants inoculated with Huall-pache, Do-cat, and Mo-cat, respectively. Furthermore, the effects on plant growth and biological control vary depending on the diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi consortia, soil conditions, and type of propagation. This study therefore demonstrates that the inoculation of coffee plants with indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi prior to field establishment promotes coffee plant growth after root-knot nematode infections.