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Cooperative management and its effects on shade tree diversity, soil properties and ecosystem services of coffee plantations in western El Salvador

El Salvador,V. E. Méndez,Elizabeth N. Shapiro,G. Gilbert

Published 2009 in Agroforestry Systems

ABSTRACT

We compared how management approaches affected shade tree diversity, soil properties, and provisioning and carbon sequestration ecosystem services in three shade coffee cooperatives. Collectively managed cooperatives utilized less diverse shade, and pruned coffee and shade trees more intensively, than individual farms. Soil properties showed significant differences among the cooperatives, with the following properties contributing to differentiation: N, pH, P, K, and Ca. Higher tree richness was associated with higher soil pH, CEC, Ca, and Mg, and lower K. Higher tree densities were associated with lower N, K, and organic matter. Although we found differences in the incidence of provisioning services (e.g., fruit), all plantations generated products other than coffee. No differences were observed between C-stocks. The history and institutional arrangements of cooperatives can influence management approaches, which affect ecosystem properties and services. Our study corroborates that interdisciplinary investigations are essential to understand the socio-ecological context of tropical shade coffee landscapes.

PUBLICATION RECORD

  • Publication year

    2009

  • Venue

    Agroforestry Systems

  • Publication date

    2009-03-10

  • Fields of study

    Agricultural and Food Sciences, Geography, Environmental Science

  • Identifiers
    DOI 10.1007/s10457-009-9220-3
  • External record

    Open on Semantic Scholar

  • Source metadata

    Semantic Scholar

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