Site characterization of coffee production areas under coffee-based agroforestry systems in La Trinidad Tublay and Atok, Benguet (Philippines)
2019
Laurean, C.P. | Fagyan, A.W. | Pablo, J.P. | Bao-idang, C.C. | Moreno, N.A. | Ramos, L.C.
Coffee production is one of the major livelihood in the province of Benguet [Philippines] and other provinces in the Cordillera region however no study on soil fertility assessment had been done on coffee-based agroforestry systems. The study was conducted to determine the morphological and chemical properties of soil planted with coffee under diverse shade trees on the major coffee production areas. The soil in the experiment sites are classified as Puguis Gravelly Loam in La Trinidad and Ambassador Silt Loam in Tublay and Atok, Benguet. A 1 m2 pit was dug on the foot slope, back slope and summit on each agroforestry system for the soil profile description. Based on the soil assessment, the experiment sites in Tublay and Atok where coffee trees are grown under alnus and mango, chayote and pine respectively have profiles that are dark yellowish to strong brown on the surface and yellowish red on the substratum. The areas in the La Trinidad where coffee were grown under alnus and pine have profiles that are brownish to dark brown on the surface and yellowish brown on the substratum and have gravels with fine friable structure. Most of the coffee growing areas have 15-30% slope, well drained, clay loam to silty clay loam texture, very deep soil which permits favourable rooting, and have high cation exchange capacity. The soils were extremely acidic ranges from 3.91 to 4.32 except for soils planted with coffee under alnus in Tublay and Atok which are very strongly acidic with pH of 4.69 and 4.89 respectively.
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