Assessment of a Cocoa-Based Agroforestry System in the Southwest of Colombia

Abstract

Cocoa-based agroforests play an important role in farmer livelihood and the global environment; however, despite these facts, their low yields and tree aging put at risk their fate. This project investigated the carbon storage potential, productivity, and economics of different agroforestry arrangements of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) with Melina (Gmelina arborea) trees, in the southwest of Colombia. We established the experiment under a Randomized Complete Blocks design with seven treatments and three repetitions. Different allometric models were tested. Allometric models were made for G. arborea trees with dbh, ranging between 30.24 and 50.11 cm. The total carbon accumulation fluctuated between 49.2 (Treatment 4) and 88.5 t ha−1 (Treatment 2), soil organic matter (SOM) ranged between 9 and 17%, bulk density decreased from 0.83 to 0.77 g cm−3. Cocoa yield ranged between 311 kg ha−1 year−1 (Treatment 7, traditional farm) and 922 kg ha−1 year−1 (Treatment 6). Treatment 6 showed the best performance with a net present value (NPV) of COP 1,446,467 (US $337.6), an internal rate of return (IRR) of 42%, and a cost-benefit ratio (B/C) of 1.67%. The benefits of AFS were also evidenced in some of the physical and chemical soil properties. Despite local marginality, these cocoa agroforest arrangements are a viable alternative to improve the traditional (local) cocoa systems because cacao agroforest arrangements increased cacao yield and carbon storage becoming a suitable alternative to improve traditional systems.

Rethinking sustainability in cocoa supply chain in light of SDG disclosure

“…However, low yields and ageing trees put its fate at risk. For example, carbon storage in traditional (local) cocoa systems is a suitable approach to improving traditional systems (Ballesteros-Possú et al , 2022). Furthermore, cocoa trees grow better in partially shaded environments.…”

Estimation of Aboveground Biomass in Agroforestry Systems over Three Climatic Regions in West Africa Using Sentinel-1, Sentinel-2, ALOS, and GEDI Data

“…Concerning the AGB in different AFS of West Africa, cocoa plantations were shown to have an AGB level 12 times lower than the average AGB in cocoa agroforestry [ 39 , 40 ]. This is explained by the fact that cocoa trees in Côte d’Ivoire are grown in pure stand (full sun cocoa) where all other trees are removed, which is not the case in typical cocoa AFS.…”

Biodiversity and Carbon Sequestration in Chakra-Type Agroforestry Systems and Humid Tropical Forests of the Ecuadorian Amazon

“…In this sense, the carbon store in tropical forests depends on strongly of the floristic composition, age, diversity, and density of species [11,12], storing more than 50% of the world's terrestrial carbon [13,14], and they are considered important carbon sinks [13,15,16]. Meanwhile, agroforestry systems (AFSs) stand out for the structure and composition of plant species, dependent on biophysical conditions and management [17,18], positioning them as a potential carbon storage alternative [7,9,19]. Furthermore, due to their wide diversification, AFSs are considered sustainable systems that provide social, economic, and environmental benefits [8,20,21], since they contribute to the conservation of biodiversity and food security due to the close interaction between crops, animals, trees, the environment, and humans [2,17].…”

“…Furthermore, due to their wide diversification, AFSs are considered sustainable systems that provide social, economic, and environmental benefits [8,20,21], since they contribute to the conservation of biodiversity and food security due to the close interaction between crops, animals, trees, the environment, and humans [2,17]. In this sense, cocoa, being one of the main crops under AFSs in the tropics and requiring little radiation, is able to associate with a variety of forest species that provide shade and have a positive influence on the quality and amount of OM in the soil through the contributions of crop residues, pruning, and leaf litter [18,21] that stimulate edaphic activity and microbial transformations [22].…”

“…Therefore, the conversion and intensification of agricultural or livestock land is associated with the loss of soil organic carbon (SOC) and the decrease in the carbon store in the biomass of these ecosystems [2,13,23]. In this context, AFSs as systems similar to forests have been positioned in these territories as alternative systems and having productive improvement in association with crops and forest species (i.e., timber or fruit trees) [9,19] as well as being effective carbon sinks in biomass and soil with good design and management of agroforestry practices [18,23].…”