Multifunctional Shade-Tree Management in Tropical Agroforestry Landscapes – A Review

background

This article discusses the benefits of shade systems in the production of cacao and coffee crops, with a particular focus on the long-term cycle of cacao production.

Conclusions & Takeaways

Shade trees have been shown to improve functional biodiversity, carbon sequestration, soil fertility, drought resistance, and weed and pest control within cacao and coffee agroforestry systems. Within cacao plantations, specifically, the benefits of shade change as the plant matures, with less shade required for older plantations. The changing shade requirements of the cacao plant with age often lead to cacao "boom-and-bust" cycles. The authors promote the use of a variety of multi-purpose shade trees that can be pruned instead of removed as the cacao crop matures to mitigate the "boom-and-bust" cycles.