Crecimiento y productividad de coffea arabica var. Esperanza (L4A5) asociada a tres especies forestales con aportes diferenciados de fertilizantes en suelos de origen aluvial de la región Caribe de Costa Rica

Abstract

Introducción: El estudio se centró en la evaluación de Coffea arabica var. Esperanza (L4A5) en el Caribe de Costa Rica, una región no tradicional para el cultivo de café. Este híbrido se ha estudiado por su adaptabilidad y productividad en zonas bajas, donde las condiciones climáticas y edáficas difieren significativamente de las áreas cafetaleras tradicionales. La investigación consideró la asociación del híbrido con diferentes arreglos agroforestales y la aplicación de fertilizaciones diferenciadas para analizar su impacto en el crecimiento, productividad, fenología y resistencia a enfermedades como la roya (Hemileia vastatrix) y el ojo de gallo (Mycena citricolor). Objetivo: Evaluar el crecimiento y la productividad de Coffea arabica var. Esperanza (L4A5) asociado a tres especies forestales y a pleno sol, bajo fertilizaciones diferenciadas. Área de estudio: El proyecto se encuentra establecido en la provincia de Limón de Costa Rica, en los predios de la Finca Forestal en la Universidad EARTH, en el cantón Guácimo de la provincia de Limón-Costa Rica. Metodología: El arreglo experimental de los diferentes componentes se realizó a través de un diseño experimental de parcelas divididas en bloques completamente aleatorizados, donde se implementaron diferentes tratamientos que incluyeron asociaciones con las especies arbóreas Cenízaro (Albizia saman), Guapinol (Hymenaea courbaril), Espavel (Anacardium excelsum) y Poró (Erythrina poeppigiana) y tres tipos de fertilización: física (F1), química (F2) y un control de acidez (Cal). Resultados: Los cafetos asociados a los tratamientos con cobertura mostraron mayor crecimiento en altura y menor mortalidad en comparación con los tratamientos a pleno sol. La fertilización diferenciada también tuvo un impacto significativo en la productividad, con diferencias significativas entre los tratamientos. La fenología del café en el Caribe de Costa Rica difiere significativamente de las zonas tradicionales cafetaleras de Costa Rica, principalmente debido a las variaciones climáticas y de altitud. En el Caribe, la floración del híbrido Esperanza L4A5 se caracteriza por dos picos distintivos: uno en marzo y otro en mayo. Este patrón de floración no es uniforme y muestra una considerable variabilidad entre los años. Desde el punto de vista de resistencia, la asociación con árboles y la fertilización diferenciada influyen en la resistencia del híbrido a las enfermedades. Conclusión: Los resultados sugieren que es posible cultivar café en zonas bajas mediante el uso de sistemas agroforestales bajo prácticas de manejo adecuadas y adaptadas a la variabilidad climática de la región.Introduction: The study focused on the evaluation of Coffea arabica var. Esperanza (L4A5) in the Caribbean region of Costa Rica, a non-traditional area for coffee cultivation. This hybrid has been studied for its adaptability and productivity in low-altitude areas where climatic and soil conditions differ significantly from traditional coffee-growing regions. The research considered the hybrid’s association with different agroforestry arrangements and the application of differentiated fertilization to analyze its impact on growth, productivity, phenology, and resistance to diseases such as coffee leaf rust (Hemileia vastatrix) and American leaf spot (Mycena citricolor). Objective: To evaluate the growth and productivity of Coffea arabica var. Esperanza (L4A5) associated with three tree species and in full sun, under differentiated fertilization. Study Area: The project is established in Limón province, Costa Rica, on the grounds of the EARTH University’s Forest Farm in Guácimo, Limón province, Costa Rica. Methodology: The experimental arrangement of the different components was carried out through a split-plot design in completely randomized blocks, implementing various treatments that included associations with tree species Cenízaro (Albizia saman), Guapinol (Hymenaea courbaril), Espavel (Anacardium excelsum), and Poró (Erythrina poeppigiana) and three types of fertilization: physical (F1), chemical (F2), and acidity control (Cal). Results: Coffee plants associated with shaded treatments showed greater height growth and lower mortality compared to full sun treatments. Differentiated fertilization also had a significant impact on productivity, with notable differences among treatments. The phenology of coffee in the Caribbean region of Costa Rica differs significantly from traditional coffee-growing areas in Costa Rica, mainly due to climatic and altitude variations. In the Caribbean, the flowering of the Esperanza L4A5 hybrid is characterized by two distinct peaks: one in March and another inIntroduction: The study focused on the evaluation of Coffea arabica var. Esperanza (L4A5) in the Caribbean region of Costa Rica, a non-traditional area for coffee cultivation. This hybrid has been studied for its adaptability and productivity in low-altitude areas where climatic and soil conditions differ significantly from traditional coffee-growing regions. The research considered the hybrid’s association with different agroforestry arrangements and the application of differentiated fertilization to analyze its impact on growth, productivity, phenology, and resistance to diseases such as coffee leaf rust (Hemileia vastatrix) and American leaf spot (Mycena citricolor). Objective: To evaluate the growth and productivity of Coffea arabica var. Esperanza (L4A5) associated with three tree species and in full sun, under differentiated fertilization. Study Area: The project is established in Limón province, Costa Rica, on the grounds of the EARTH University’s Forest Farm in Guácimo, Limón province, Costa Rica. Methodology: The experimental arrangement of the different components was carried out through a split-plot design in completely randomized blocks, implementing various treatments that included associations with tree species Cenízaro (Albizia saman), Guapinol (Hymenaea courbaril), Espavel (Anacardium excelsum), and Poró (Erythrina poeppigiana) and three types of fertilization: physical (F1), chemical (F2), and acidity control (Cal). Results: Coffee plants associated with shaded treatments showed greater height growth and lower mortality compared to full sun treatments. Differentiated fertilization also had a significant impact on productivity, with notable differences among treatments. The phenology of coffee in the Caribbean region of Costa Rica differs significantly from traditional coffee-growing areas in Costa Rica, mainly due to climatic and altitude variations. In the Caribbean, the flowering of the Esperanza L4A5 hybrid is characterized by two distinct peaks: one in March and another in May. This flowering pattern is not uniform and shows considerable variability between years. From a resistance perspective, the association with trees and differentiated fertilization influences the hybrid’s resistance to diseases. Conclusion: The results suggest that it is possible to cultivate coffee in low-altitude areas by using agroforestry systems with suitable management practices adapted to the region’s climatic variability.