Microclimate and development of 'Conilon' coffee intercropped with rubber trees

Authors

  • Fábio Luiz Partelli Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo
  • André Vasconcellos Araújo Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo
  • Henrique Duarte Vieira Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro
  • Jairo Rafael Machado Dias Universidade Federal de Rondônia
  • Luis Fernando Tavares de Menezes Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo
  • José Cochicho Ramalho Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical, Centro de Ambiente, Agricultura e Desenvolvimento

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-3921.pab2014.v49.19984

Keywords:

Coffea canephora, Hevea brasiliensis, irradiance, monoculture, shading

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate the influence of intercropping 'Conilon' coffee (Coffea canephora) with rubber trees on coffee tree microclimate, nutrition, growth, and yield. Rubber trees were planted in two double rows 33 m apart, with 4x2.3 m spacing between plants. Treatments consisted of the distances from the coffee plants to the rubber trees: 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15 m. Measurements of atmospheric variables (temperature, irradiance, and relative humidity), leaf nutrient concentration, internode length of plagiotropic and orthotropic branches, individual leaf area, chlorophyll content, and yield were performed. Intercropping promotes changes in the microclimatic conditions of coffee plants close to rubber trees, with reduction of temperature and irradiance level and increase in air relative humidity. The proximity of the coffee tree to the rubber trees promotes the elongation of the plagiotropic and orthotropic branches and increases the individual leaf area; however, it does not affect leaf concentrations of N, K, Mg, Fe, Zn, and B in 'Conilon' coffee and does not have a negative impact on yield.

Author Biography

Fábio Luiz Partelli, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo

http://lattes.cnpq.br/6730543200776161 São Mateus, ES

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Published

2014-12-08

How to Cite

Partelli, F. L., Araújo, A. V., Vieira, H. D., Dias, J. R. M., Menezes, L. F. T. de, & Ramalho, J. C. (2014). Microclimate and development of ’Conilon’ coffee intercropped with rubber trees. Pesquisa Agropecuaria Brasileira, 49(11), 872–881. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1678-3921.pab2014.v49.19984

Issue

Section

CROP SCIENCE