Soil Biological Activity, Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics in Modified Coffee Agroforestry Systems in Mexico

Background

Coffee agroforestry systems bring a plethora of economic, social, and ecological benefits. Specifically, they aid soil biological activity. In Mexico, due to cost and production challenges, coffee is being replaced by avocado plantations. The impact of coffee agroforestry systems on specific soil biological characteristics and processes is not fully understood. Nor are the impacts of avocado plantations on soil biological activity.

goals and methods

The authors conduct a field study in the Chicuellar Huatuso municipality of Veracruz, Mexico to assess the variation of soil biological process in coffee agroforestry systems and avocado monocultures. In addition, the authors investigate how carbon and nitrogen dynamics shift with these systems in place.

Conclusions and Takeaways

The authors find that soil respiration is reduced when farms are converted from coffee agroforestry systems to avocado monocultures. The removal of leaf litter for avocado monocultures reduces soil macrofauna, and both C and N are significantly reduced with the transition from coffee agroforestry to avocado monoculture. However, the introduction of avocado trees may provide additional C storage potential.