Field Methodology Explained Lucia 170608

2009

Field Methods Explained

2009

Background information

• Los Santos region is characterized by its intensive coffee production strategy

• High use of synthetic fertilizers, herbicides• Low diversity shade tree cover• High yield varieties

• Beside this, the region has a highly unsuitable landscape for sustainable farming

Tarrazu coffee characteristics

Fig. 1: Comparison of the green coffee production (kg/ha) of different Latin American countries.

Fig. 2: Trends of coffee yields in Costa Rica. Yield was estimated using the average of the 5 coffee growing regions in Costa Rica

UPLLPLUCLLCLESTIMATE

Confidence Interval and Prediction Interval

2000 2003 2006 2009YEAR

16

22

28

34

Yie

ld (

Fa

n/h

a*y

ea

r)

General IndicatorLevel Indicator Statistic Value

Farm Plots studied Number 40

Plot size (ha) Median 0.79Gross Income 2008

($*ha-1) Mean 4458 (+/- 545)

Farm InputsTotal Nitrogen through fertilizers (kg*ha-1) Mean 197 (+/- 28)

1 to 3 herbicide active ingridients (%)

Absolute frequency 62

Geography Elevation (masl) Range 1291 to 1848

Elevation (masl) Mean 1520 (+/- 40)

2009

In 15 Sampling sites erosion was found to be (Mata & Ramírez, 2000) None: 2 little: 1 Moderate: 5 Severe: 6

R2= 0.43; p = 0.03

Effects of management in coffee production

Effects of management in coffee production: fertilizers

0 100 200 300 400 500Applied Nitrogen (kg/ha)

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Me

an

tota

l be

rrie

s/b

ran

ch

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

0 100 200 300 400 500

Applied N (kg*ha-1)

Co

ffe

e F

ruit

Yie

ld (

Fa

n*h

a-1

)

FarmsICAFE

Effects of management in coffee production: fertilizers (2)

1. F

ores

t

2.Org

.Cof

fee

3.Con

.Cof

fee

4.In

t.Cof

fee

3

4

5

6

7

pH

R2 = 0.64; p = 0.001

3 4 5 6 7pH

0

5

10

15

Ca

lciu

m (

cmo

l(+

)/l)


R2= 0.863

N= 40

Multiple Regression, pHEffect Coefficient t p -value

Ca (cmol(+)*l-1) 0.063 2.995 0.005Applied N (kg*ha-1) -0.001 -2.67 0.011log(Acidity(cmol(+)*l-1) -0.453 -6.71 0.001


Multiple Regression, Mean total berries *branch-1

Effect Coefficient t p -value

Ca (cmol(+)*l-1) 2.045 2.942 0.006log(Acidity(cmol(+)*l-1) 2.448 2.187 0.037OM (%) 1.676 2.463 0.02

R2= 0.257

N= 34

Shade tree

Ground cover

CoffeeHealth/vigorProductivity QualityFarmer investment

Biodiversity and

abundanceErosion

and water run

off

Soil

Landscape composition, features, altitude (GIS)

Micro-climate

Fertilizer and liming

Managing Ecosystems (1)

Farm(sub) Watershed

Landscape

2009

What are we looking at:

•Relationship between landscape characteristics, ecosystems, and coffee production

•Relationship between site characteristics and coffee production

• Effect of farming practices on coffee production

050

100150200250300350400450500

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

g/ha Herbicide

Kg

/ha

N

HF/HH

LF/HHLF/LH

HF/LH

Organic

Intensification

2009

Spatial Analysis through GIS

Farmer log keeping

Log book keeping

Field Work!

“Sampling plots”

Plot studied 2007-2009

Control

Treatment

2009

The transect

• Data of coffee production by plants

• Soil nutrient and soil organic matter samples

• Arthropod diversity

• Ground cover structure

2009

10m

10m

2009

Orthotropic axle

Prunned axles

The coffee plantIn 10 plants per transect:• Measure diameter at 10 cm from the ground

• Count the number of orthotropic axle

•Count number of orthotropic axles prunned

•Count the number of berries on 5 branches

2009

coffee beans

nodes

branches

leaves

2009

Orthotropic axle

Soils• Drill using the soil auger 15 spots 20cm away from the base of a coffee plant

• Combine this samples in a bag to create a compound sample

2009

Ground cover

• 2m from the center of transect, following the four cardinal directions (NESW), locate the metal frame of 1x1m

• Write down the percentage of area under the following ground covers: live, mulch, and not cover(bare soil)

2009

Thank you!

Field Methodology Explained Lucia 170608

Lifestyle

Transcript of Field Methodology Explained Lucia 170608