Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Soil characteristics below Erythrina poeppigiana in organic and conventional Costa Rican coffee plantations

  • Published:
Agroforestry Systems Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The impact of Erythrina poeppigiana on soil characteristics, at three different positions relative to the shade tree and from three different soil depths, was evaluated in pairs of comparable Costa Rican coffee farms (organic and conventional) in 2000 and 2004. In the conventional system at 0–5 cm, higher C and N concentrations were found close to the shade tree versus the positions 2 m from the trunk (5.04 vs. 4.18%). This positive effect could influence only 20% of the farm area when high population of E. poeppigiana were used. This finding highlighted the importance of E. poeppigiana in maintaining SOM levels. In contrast, the organic system showed similar C and N concentrations for all positions probably due to an even distribution of pruning residues and to the use of organic amendments. A trend to higher total C and N concentrations for organic farms in comparison to conventional farms was found. No significant temporal changes in soil C or N concentrations were found between 2000 and 2004.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aguilar V, Staver C (1997) Acumulación y descomposición de biomasa en el sub-sistema maleza bajo tres manejos en un cafetal del Pacífico de Nicaragua. IICA N° A1-SC-97-05 San José, Costa Rica, pp 115–124

  • Babbar L, Zak D (1994) Nitrogen cycling in coffee agroecosystems: net nitrogen mineralization and nitrification in the presence and absence of shade trees. Agric Ecosyst Environ 48:107–113. doi:10.1016/0167-8809(94)90081-7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barrios E, Buresh RJ, Sprent JI (1996) Organic matter in soil particle size and density fractions from maize and legume cropping systems. Soil Biol Biochem 28:185–193. doi:10.1016/0038-0717(95)00110-7

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Beer J (1988) Litter production and nutrient cycling in coffee (Coffea arabica) or cacao (Theobroma cacao) plantations with shade trees. Agrofor Syst 7:103–114. doi:10.1007/BF00046846

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beer J, Muschler R, Kass D, Somarriba E (1998) Shade management in coffee and cacao plantations. Agrofor Syst 38:139–164. doi:10.1023/A:1005956528316

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boettcher SE, Kalisz PJ (1990) Single-tree influence on soil properties in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky. Ecology 71:1365–1372. doi:10.2307/1938273

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Boyce J, Fernández A, Fürst E, Segura O (1994) Café y Desarrollo Sostenible. Universidad Nacional, San José

    Google Scholar 

  • Chesney EP (2000) Pruning effects on roots of nitrogen fixing trees in the humid tropic. Ph.D. Thesis, CATIE, Turrialba, Costa Rica

  • Fisher RF (1995) Amelioration of degraded rain forest soil by plantation of native trees. Soil Sci Soc Am J 59:544–549

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fließbach A, Mäder P (2000) Microbial biomass and size-density fractions differ between soils of organic and conventional agricultural systems. Soil Biol Biochem 32:757–768. doi:10.1016/S0038-0717(99)00197-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fontaine S, Barot S, Barre P, Bdioui N, Mary B, Rumpel C (2007) Stability of organic carbon in deep soil layers controlled by fresh carbon supply. Nature 450(8):277–280. doi:10.1038/nature06275

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • García N, Velasco F, Aguilera N (1990) Evolución regresiva de diversos parámetros edáficos en agroecosistemas (cafetales, cañaverales) derivados del bosque mesófilo de montaña (México). An Edafologia 49:591–603

    Google Scholar 

  • Garzón SH (1991) Evaluación de la erosión hídrica y la escorrentía superficial, bajo sistemas agroforestales en tierras de ladera. MSc thesis, CATIE, Turrialba, Costa Rica, 121 pp

  • Kass DCL, Jiménez J, Sánchez J, Soto ML, Garzón H (1993) Erythrina in alley farming. In: Westley SB, Powell MH (eds) Erythrina in the new and old worlds. Nitrogen Fixing Tree Association, Hawaii, pp 29–137

    Google Scholar 

  • Kimemia JK, Chweya JA, Nyabundi JO (2001) Green manure application to young coffee plants after establishment II: effects on soil properties. Kenya Coffee 66:3052–3057

    Google Scholar 

  • Kouakoua E (1998) La matiere organique et la stabilité structurale d’horizons de surface de sols ferralitiques argileux. Effect du mode de gestion des terres. Thesis Docteur, Universite Heinri Poincaré Nancy 1, 79 pp

  • Kuzyakova Y, Friedelb JK, Stahr K (2000) Review of mechanisms and quantification of priming effects. Soil Biol Biochem 32:1485–1498. doi:10.1016/S0038-0717(00)00084-5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lockeretz W, Shearer G, Kohl D (1981) Organic farming in the corn belt. Science 211:540–546. doi:10.1126/science.211.4482.540

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lotter DW (2003) Organic agriculture. J Sustain Agric 21:59–128. doi:10.1300/J064v21n04_06

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lyngbaeck A, Muschler R, Sinclair F (2001) Productivity and profitability of multistrata organic versus conventional coffee farms in Costa Rica. Agrofor Syst 53:205–213. doi:10.1023/A:1013332722014

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Muschler R (2001) Shade improves coffee quality in a sub-optimal coffee-zone of Costa Rica. Agrofor Syst 51:131–139. doi:10.1023/A:1010603320653

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ohm H, Hamer U, Marshner B (2007) Priming effects in soil size fractions of a podzol Bs horizon after addition of fructose and alanine. J Plant Nutr Soil Sci 170(4):551–559

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Payan F, Jones DL, Beer J (2007) Dynamics of size–density fractions of soil organic matter following the addition of tree litter to organic coffee farms. Geoderma 141:15–22

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramírez CO, Bornemisza E (1990) Efecto de residuos orgánicos y abonamiento mineral sobre las propiedades químicas de un Typic Humitropept en Turrialba, Costa Rica. Agronomia Costarricense 14:237–240

    Google Scholar 

  • Reganold J (1995) Soil quality and profitability of biodynamic and conventional farming systems: a review. Am J Altern Agric 10:36–45

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reganold J, Palmer A, Lockhart J, Mac Gregor A (1993) Soil quality and financial performance of bio-dynamic and conventional farms in New Zealand. Science 260:344–349. doi:10.1126/science.260.5106.344

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Russell EW (1988) Soil conditions and plant growth. In: Wild A (ed) 11th edn. Longman Group, UK, 991 pp

  • Santana M, Cabala-Rosand P (1982) Dynamics of nitrogen in a shaded cacao plantation. Plant Soil 67:271–281. doi:10.1007/BF02182774

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • SAS Institute (1999) SAS/STAT user’s guide. Version 8, ed. SAS Institute Inc., Cary

  • Schroth G, Lehmann J, Rodrigues MRL, Barrios E, Macedo JLV (2001) Plant–soil interactions in multistrata agroforestry in the humid tropics. Agrofor Syst 53:85–102. doi:10.1023/A:1013360000633

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Soil Survey Staff (2003) Keys to soil taxonomy, 9th edn. United States Department of Agriculture. Natural Resources Conservation Service, Washington, DC, 332 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Somarriba E, Beer J, Muschler RG (2001) Research methods for multistrata agroforestry systems with coffee and cacao: recommendations from two decades of research at CATIE. Agrofor Syst 53(2):195–203. doi:10.1023/A:1013380605176

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stockdale EA, Lampkin NH, Hovi M, Keatinge R, Lennartsson EKM, Macdonald DW, Padel S, Tattersall FH, Wolfe MS, Watson CA (2001) Agronomic and environmental implications of organic farming systems. Adv Agron 70:261–327. doi:10.1016/S0065-2113(01)70007-7

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wells AT, Chan KY, Cornish PS (2000) Comparison of conventional and alternative vegetable farming systems on the properties of a yellow earth in New South Wales. Agric Ecosyst Environ 80:47–60. doi:10.1016/S0167-8809(00)00133-X

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Young A (1999) Agroforestry for soil management, 2nd edn. CAB International-ICRAF, Wallingford

    Google Scholar 

  • Zinke PJ (1962) The pattern of influence of individual forest trees on soil properties. Ecology 43:130–133. doi:10.2307/1932049

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zuloaga JJ (2004) Dinámica de la materia orgánica del suelo en sistemas agroforestales de café con Erythrina poeppigiana (Walpers) O·F. Cook en Costa Rica. MSc. Thesis CATIE, Turrialba, Costa Rica, 116 pp

Download references

Acknowledgments

This work was funded by CONACYT (National Science and Technology Council) of the Mexican Government and by UAM (Autonomic Metropolitan University). We would also like to thank Dr. Andrew Owen for his experimental support, Dr Hector Zelaya-Turcios (in memoriam) for his inspiring advice, Mr. Carlos Vazquez for his support during field stage and an independent reviewer who suggested some valuable corrections, clarifications and additions to the draft article.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agriculture, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Xochimilco, Calz del hueso 1100, Mexico D.F., México

    Fidel Payán

  2. School of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor, Gwynedd, LL57 2UW, UK

    Davey L. Jones

  3. Department of Agriculture and Agroforestry, CATIE, 7170, Turrialba, Costa Rica

    John Beer

  4. CIRAD – Département Persyst UR Fonctionnement et Pilotage des Ecosystèmes de Plantations S/C UR SeqBio – IRD (Sup Agro), 2 Place Viala Bât 12, 34060, Montpellier Cedex 01, France

    Jean-Michel Harmand

Authors
  1. Fidel Payán
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Davey L. Jones
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. John Beer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jean-Michel Harmand
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Fidel Payán.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Payán, F., Jones, D.L., Beer, J. et al. Soil characteristics below Erythrina poeppigiana in organic and conventional Costa Rican coffee plantations. Agroforest Syst 76, 81–93 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-008-9201-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-008-9201-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation