Linking local ecological knowledge to plant functional traits in coffee and cocoa agroforestry systems in

Costa Rica

Jenny C. Ordonez Olivier Deheuvels Esmeralda Castro

agroforestry systems

with perennial crops

Introduction

Local ecological knowledge (LEK) studies show commonalities on:• Tree –crop interactions• how tree species affect ecological processes. • Desirable tree attributes

LEK qualitative – semi-quantitative indicators, make comparisons difficult across systems, regions.

(Cerdan (2012) Agricultural Ecosystems; Soto-Pinto et al., (2007) Biodiversity and conservation; Heinze, 2013 (2013), MSc. Thesis

Introduction

• Functional ecology uses functional traits to understand plant responses to environment and plant mediated impacts on ecosystem processes

(Westoby 2002, Garnier et al., 2004; Lavorel and Garnier, 2002; Violle et al., 2007)

DryInfertile soils

MoistFertilesoils

Introduction

• Functional traits might make comparisons across systems and regions possible.

•morphological, physiological and phenological characteristics•effects on growth, reproduction and survival •impact plant fitness

Objectives

Functional traits

LEK FT

Best Shade

Soil fertilityMicroclimate regulation

Soil Erosion

Study sites

Study sites: Coffee SAF – Turrialba

• Commercial polyculture• Main crop: coffee• Shade: service tree

(Erythrina poeppigiana), fruit trees, bananas, palms

• Organic and conventional systems, input use and regular crop management

• Regular management of shade, pruning and coppicing.

Study sites: Cocoa SAF - Talamanca

• Rustic and traditional agroforests

• Main crop: cacao• High shade: timber

trees, fruit trees, medicinal trees, bananas, palms

• Organic and conventional with little pruning and little sanitary harvest on cocoa trees.

• No management of associated plant species.

Methods

• 50 farmers for each AFS • Semi-structured

interview • Ranking exercise for 20

most common species

Methods

• Measurement of 3 functional traits– Specific leaf area (m2 Kg-1)(growth rate and C economy)– Leaf tensile strength (N mm-1)(protective tissues and decomposition)– Plant height (m)(total plant biomass, competition for light)

Data analysis

• Ranking based on paired comparisons with Bradley-Terry model

• Multivariate analysis of ranking results (PCA)• Bivariate comparisons of ranking results and

trait measurements

MAIN RESULTS

Main results: rankingCoffee AFS Cocoa AFS

Ery.

poe

Mus

.sp.

Ing.

sp.

Ced.

odo

Acn.

arb

Gli.s

ep

Cor.a

ll

The.

cac

Per.a

me

Oco

.flo

Psi.g

ua

Cit.s

p.

Psi.f

ri

Syz.m

al

Cit.s

p.

Cec.s

p.

Bac.g

as

Yuc.s

p.

-8

-6

-4

-2

0

Prio

rizac

ion

espe

cies

Ery.

ber

Ing.

sp1

Ing.

sp3

Gli.s

epPe

r.am

eFi

c.sp.

Syz.m

alIn

g.sp

2Ce

d.od

oCu

p.cin

Ne.

lap

Mus

.sp.

Cor.a

llHu

r.cre

Hie.

alc

Spo.

mom

Aba.

idi

Ann.

mur

Pou.

sap

Bac.g

as

-3

-2

-1

0

1

2

Main results: convergent farmer criteria

BEST WORSEWORSE

WORSE

Main results: correspondence LEK - FT

BEST WORSEWORSE

r= - 0.50P=0.033

r= 0.49P=0.027

Main results: correspondence LEK - FT

BEST WORSEWORSE

r= 0.67P=0.002

r= -0.21P=0.337

Conclusions

• Coincidence on LEK and Ecological Theory, particularly in relation to plant mediated effects on soil fertility in coffee and cocoa AFS.

Conclusions

• In cocoa low correspondence of ranking to SLA might point to valuing more strongly other objectives (e.g. fruit production) or different components of SLA.

Conclusions

• Combination of LEK and FT might open opportunities for assessment of AFS and selection of trees under different conditions.

Thanks

The World Agroforestry CentreCentral America

• Communities around Turrialba and Talamanca

• Esmeralda Castro, Pablo Cruz, Nacho

• CIRAD-PCP y CRP6-Forest Trees and Agroforestry

j.ordonez@cgiar.org

Selected species Especie Familia Nombre científico SAF café SAF cacao

Aguacate Lauraceae Persea americana x xBanano Musaceae Musa sp. x x

Cacao Malvaceae Theobroma cacao x

Cas Myrtaceae Psidium friedrichsthalianum x

Casha Fabaceae Abarema idiopoda x

Cedro Meliaceae Cedrela odorata x x

Cola de pava Sapindaceae Cupania cinerea x

Guaba Fabaceae Inga sp. 1 x x

Guabacaite Fabaceae Inga sp. 2 x

Guabilla Fabaceae Inga sp. 3 x

Guanabana Annonaceae Annona muricata x

Guarumo Cecropiaceae Cecropia sp. x

Guayaba Myrtaceae Psidium guajava x

Guitite Solanaceae Acnistus arborescens x

Higuito Moraceae Ficus pertusa x

Itabo Agavaceaes Yucca sp. x

Jabillo Euphorbiaceae Hura crepitans x

Jobos Anacardiaceae Spondias mombin x

Laurel Boraginaceae Cordia alliodora x x

Limon Rutaceae Citrus sp. x

Madero negro Fabaceae Gliricidia sepium x x

Mamon chino Sapindaceae Nephelium lappaceum x

Manzana de Agua Myrtaceae Syzygium malaccense x x

Naranja Rutaceae Citrus sp. x

Pejibaye Arecaceae Bactris gasipaes x x

Pilon Phyllanthaceae Hieronyma alchorneoides x

Poro Fabaceae Erythrina berteroana x

Poro Fabaceae Erythrina poeppigiana x

Quizarra Lauraceae Ocotea floribunda x

Sapote Sapotaceae Pouteria sapota x