Sustainability assessment of soil properties in Coffea arabica – based agroforestry systems of Atok, Benguet, Philippines
Paper Details
Sustainability assessment of soil properties in Coffea arabica – based agroforestry systems of Atok, Benguet, Philippines
Abstract
This study was undertaken in response to the little evidence and detailed analysis in literature to support claims that coffee-based agro forestry systems are sustainable. It studied the status of soil properties as affected by the farm elevation, species of shade trees and coffee ages in the Arabica coffee–based agro forestry systems in Atok, Benguet, Philippines. The split-split design was used. A total of thirty six (36) experimental plots were established where soil samples were obtained and subsequently analyzed in the soils laboratory of UPLB. Results show that, of the studied soil properties (NPK and OM contents, pH and Bulk Densities), only N is significantly affected by the species of shade trees, and only N and OM are significantly affected by the ages of coffee trees and the interactions of shade trees and coffee ages; all said soil properties are not significantly affected by the elevation of the farms. In addition, the status or level of NPK and OM contents, and soil pH are moderately sustainable, while soil BD is assessed to be highly sustainable. The average initial soil N is significantly higher in the following: 1) Plots with coffee-fruit trees combination, but significantly decreased at the end of the study and become comparable with that of the plots with coffee-Alnus combinations; 2) Plots with old coffee trees but decreased (together with that of the middle-aged) and become significantly lower than that of the younger (3-10 years) coffee trees where it increased;3) Plots with old coffee–Alnus combination which decreased but remain significantly higher at the end of the study; and4) Plots with young coffee–fruit trees combinations which even increased at the end of the study while the rest remained or decreased.
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