Published
2019-12-11
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ECOPHYSIOLOGIC PERFORMANCE OF COFFEE (Coffea arabica L.) cv. CASTILLO AT SHADE IN SAN JUAN DE RIOSECO, COLOMBIA

DOI: https://doi.org/10.22490/21456453.2915
Section
Área Agrícola
Hernán J. Andrade Grupo de Investigación PROECUT, Facultad de Ingeniería Agronómica, Universidad del Tolima http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3398-294X
Piedad Cecilia Zapata Arango The Nature Conservancy https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9293-6572

The reduction of available radiation, by shade, modifies microclimatic conditions for associated crops. This modification is a key for the design and management of agroforestry systems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the shade level on the behaviour of coffee bushes (Coffea arabica L.) in San Juan de Rioseco, Cundinamarca, Colombia. A completely randomized design with three treatments (low, medium and high shade), estimated with photographies to canopy and Gap Light Analyzer, and five replications represented in coffee plantations. It was established a sampling plot of 20 × 50 m in each coffee plantation, where three plants were selected to measure shade, photosythetically active radiation, stomatal conductance, net assimilation of CO2, transpiration, vapour pressure deficit, water use efficiency and substomatal CO2 concentration with a portable photosynthesis system - CIRAS 3. The greatest net assimilation was recorded in coffee bushes with low shade (0-30%) at noon, whish coincides with the highest stomatal conductance and the lowest vapour pressure deficit. The lowest values of net assimilation were reached with high shade (66-75%) in the afternoon. The CO2 assimilation is reduced from 44 to 61%, and the water use efficiency from 41 to 56% with an increase of shade from low to medium and high levels, respectively. The optimum range for coffee bushes was between 42 and 380 µmol m-2 s-1, which is between 20 and 30% of shade in these conditions. This shade level is the recommended for coffee plantations in San Juan de Rioseco.