• Authors:
    • Normand,F.
    • Lauri,P. E.
    • Legave,J. M.
  • Source: Acta Horticulturae
  • Volume: 1075
  • Year: 2015
  • Summary: Climate change is becoming an observed reality, very likely due to the increase of anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentration. Since a few decades, several research teams around the world carry out a huge work to model the future climatic change during the 21st century, based on several scenarios of greenhouse gas emission. We have to expect rise in average temperatures, in atmospheric CO 2 concentration, in soil salinity in some areas, and lower and more irregular rainfall. The climate variability and the frequency of extreme events (scorching heat, heavy rainfall, drought, hurricane) are also expected to rise. Climate change is therefore a great concern for agriculture. Mango is one of the most widely cultivated and popular fruits in these regions for its economic and nutritional values. It is the fifth most cultivated fruit in the world. It is consequently justified to wonder about the impact of climate change on the mango tree and about the consequences on mango production and cultivation. The lack of crop model for mango prevents the prediction of the effects of climate change on mango tree development and production. They are then assessed on the basis of our current knowledge on the influence of climatic variables on mango tree development and production. We describe the influence of climatic variables on processes of agronomical importance for the mango tree: photosynthesis, vegetative and reproductive development, fruit quality. We then review the climate changes predicted for two areas of mango production and draw the possible consequences for mango cultivation. Finally, we propose some research ways to adapt mango cultivation to climate change in the coming decades, such as cultivar and rootstock selection, and improvement of cultural practices. The interest of developing a mango crop model is discussed.
  • Authors:
    • Cisz, M.
    • Galdos, M.
    • Hilbert, J.
    • Rod, K.
    • Ferreira, A.
    • Leite, L.
    • Kaczmarek, D.
    • Chimner, R.
    • Resh, S.
    • Asbjornsen, H.
    • Scott, D.
    • Titus, B.
    • Gollany, H.
  • Source: Environmental Management
  • Volume: 56
  • Issue: 6
  • Year: 2015
  • Summary: Rapid expansion in biomass production for biofuels and bioenergy in the Americas is increasing demand on the ecosystem resources required to sustain soil and site productivity. We review the current state of knowledge and highlight gaps in research on biogeochemical processes and ecosystem sustainability related to biomass production. Biomass production systems incrementally remove greater quantities of organic matter, which in turn affects soil organic matter and associated carbon and nutrient storage (and hence long-term soil productivity) and off-site impacts. While these consequences have been extensively studied for some crops and sites, the ongoing and impending impacts of biomass removal require management strategies for ensuring that soil properties and functions are sustained for all combinations of crops, soils, sites, climates, and management systems, and that impacts of biomass management (including off-site impacts) are environmentally acceptable. In a changing global environment, knowledge of cumulative impacts will also become increasingly important. Long-term experiments are essential for key crops, soils, and management systems because short-term results do not necessarily reflect long-term impacts, although improved modeling capability may help to predict these impacts. Identification and validation of soil sustainability indicators for both site prescriptions and spatial applications would better inform commercial and policy decisions. In an increasingly inter-related but constrained global context, researchers should engage across inter-disciplinary, inter-agency, and international lines to better ensure the long-term soil productivity across a range of scales, from site to landscape.
  • Authors:
    • Say, E.
    • Astorga, C.
    • Poveda, V.
    • Alvarado, E.
    • Avila, G.
    • Mavisoy, H.
    • Espin, T.
    • Davila, H.
    • Cifuentes, M.
    • Orozco, L.
    • Cerda, R.
    • Somarriba, E.
    • Deheuvels, O.
  • Source: Agriculture Ecosystems and Environment
  • Volume: 173
  • Year: 2013
  • Summary: The cocoa tree ( Theobroma cacao L.) is cultivated typically in agroforestry systems in close association with a rich list of tree species and other useful plants on the same plot. Cocoa based agroforestry systems are credited for stocking significant amounts of carbon and hence have the potential to mitigate climate change. Since cocoa yields decrease non-linearly with increasing shade, a need is to design optimal cocoa agroforestry systems with high yields and high carbon stocks. We estimated the carbon stocked in a network of 229 permanent sample plots in cacao-based agroforestry systems and natural forests in five Central American countries. Carbon stocks were fractioned by both system compartments (aboveground, roots, soil, litter, dead wood - fine and coarse, and total) and tree use/form (cocoa, timber, fruit, bananas, shade and ornamentals, and palms). Cocoa plantations were assigned to a five-class typology and tested for independence with growing region using contingency analysis. Most Central American cocoa plantations had mixed or productive shade canopies. Only 4% of cocoa plantations were full sun or rustic (cocoa under thinned natural forest). Cocoa tree density was low (548192 trees ha -1). Total carbon (soil+biomass+dead biomass) was 11747 Mg ha -1, with 51 Mg ha -1 in the soil and 49 Mg ha -1 (42% of total carbon) in aboveground biomass (cocoa and canopy trees). Cocoa trees accumulated 9 Mg C ha -1 (18% of carbon in aboveground biomass). Timber and fruit trees stored 65% of aboveground carbon. The annual rate of accumulation of carbon in aboveground biomass ranged between 1.3 and 2.6 Mg C ha -1 y -1. Trade-offs between carbon levels and yields were explored qualitatively using functional relationships documented in the scientific and technical literature, and expert knowledge. We argue that it is possible to design cocoa-based AFS with good yields (cocoa and shade canopy) and high carbon stock levels. The botanical composition of the shade canopy provides a large set of morphological and functional traits that can be used to optimize shade canopy design. Our results offer Central American cocoa producers a rigorous estimate of carbon stocks in their cocoa plantations. This knowledge may help them to certify and sell their cocoa, timber, fruits and other goods to niche markets with good prices. Our results will also assist governments and the private sector in (i) designing better legal, institutional and policy frameworks, local and national, promoting an agriculture with trees and (ii) contributing to the development of the national monitoring, reporting and verification systems required by the international community to access funding and payment for ecosystem services.
  • Authors:
    • Navichoc, D.
    • Soto, M.
    • Rivera, L.
    • Killian, B.
  • Source: Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology, B
  • Volume: 3
  • Issue: 3
  • Year: 2013
  • Summary: The issue of carbon emissions has been on the corporate sustainability agenda for some years. For those working in agricultural supply chains, the challenges remain significant, given the diverse direct and indirect emissions occurring throughout the value chain. This study determines the carbon footprint of the supply chain of Costa Rican coffee exported to Europe, using best practice methodology to calculate greenhouse gas emissions. Overall, it was found that the total carbon footprint across the entire supply chain is 4.82 kg CO 2e kg -1 green coffee. The carbon footprint of the processes in Costa Rica to produce 1 km of green coffee is 1.77 kg CO 2e. The processes within Europe generate 3.05 kg CO 2e kg -1 green coffee. This carbon footprint is considered as "very high intensity". This paper also identifies the sources of the most intense emission and discusses mitigation possibilities on which efforts must be focused.
  • Authors:
    • Murgueitio Restrepo, E.
    • Ibrahim, M.
    • Montagnini, F.
  • Source: BOIS ET FORETS DES TROPIQUES
  • Issue: 316
  • Year: 2013
  • Summary: Cattle production is part of people's cultures and is important for human nutrition and welfare. However, conventional cattle ranching is a source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Carbon sequestration in vegetation and soils can be enhanced and GHG emissions reduced with controlled grazing, appropriate pasture species, and the use of silvopastoral systems (SPS), which combine trees and shrubs with pastures. In addition, SPS contribute to climate change adaptation thanks to the ameliorating effects of trees on air temperatures that dry out pastures, as well as improving animal well-being and productivity. Several types of SPS are commonly found in the agricultural landscapes of Latin America. Intensive SPS (ISPS), where fodder banks are combined with woody species planted at high density, produce better yields than conventional ranching thanks to higher cattle density and better weight gain by the animals. Research in Colombia, Nicaragua and Costa Rica shows that SPS have more carbon in aboveground biomass and in soils than degraded pastures. In SPS, the timber or fruit trees, either planted or from natural forest regeneration, increases carbon stocks and sequestration rates. Native tree species can be used in SPS with good results in terms of productivity, soil restoration, carbon sequestration, and biodiversity conservation. The use of SPS contributes to carbon sequestration in trees and in soils, while establishing forest plantations and conserving secondary forests increase carbon sequestration and storage at the landscape level. SPS and especially ISPS can contribute to climate change mitigation because their net GHG emissions can be negative. In Latin America, successful ISPS are being scaled up to regional levels. Incentives such as Payments for Environmental Services along with technical assistance can stimulate the adoption of SPS, thus contributing to climate change mitigation while preserving rural livelihoods.
  • Authors:
    • Ramos-Espinoza, G.
    • Beer, J.
    • Flores-Macias, A.
    • Harmand, J.
    • Payan-Zelaya, F.
    • de Leon Gonzalez, F.
  • Source: Agroforestry Systems
  • Volume: 87
  • Issue: 2
  • Year: 2013
  • Summary: To investigate the effects of microbial inocula and Erythrina poeppigiana pruning residues on soil K, NO3-, and NH4+ concentrations, a greenhouse trial, a field experiment in an organic farm, and three in vitro tests were conducted. Under controlled conditions, weak, temporary effects (10 %) on maize seedling growth were observed on poor soils (taken from the 10-20 cm layer) in the first 2 weeks after application. Positive effects of pruning residue applications on soil K levels (0.09 cmol kg(-1), on average) were detected in both the field and greenhouse study. However, significant effects due to the addition of microbial inocula on soil K concentrations were not detected in the field; thus, microbial applications were ineffective at enhancing nutrient availability under field conditions. In contrast, in the in vitro experiments, CO2 production was 31 % greater than that of untreated soil on the 8th and 15th days of incubation. These results highlight the importance of adding tree pruning residues to support coffee-plant nutrition. Experimental outcome data could be valuable for further studies focused on microbial application dosage and timing.
  • Authors:
    • Aronsson, A. K. S.
    • Svanes, E.
  • Source: The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment
  • Volume: 18
  • Issue: 8
  • Year: 2013
  • Summary: Bananas are one of the highest selling fruits worldwide, and for several countries, bananas are an important export commodity. However, very little is known about banana's contribution to global warming. The aims of this work were to study the greenhouse gas emissions of bananas from cradle to retail and cradle to grave and to assess the potential of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions along the value chain. Carbon footprint methodology based on ISO-DIS 14067 was used to assess GHG emissions from 1 kg of bananas produced at two plantations in Costa Rica including transport by cargo ship to Norway. Several methodological issues are not clearly addressed in ISO 14067 or the LCA standards 14040 and ISO 14044 underpinning 14067. Examples are allocation, allocation in recycling, representativity and system borders. Methodological choices in this study have been made based on other standards, such as the GHG Protocol Products Standard. The results indicate that bananas had a carbon footprint (CF) on the same level as other tropical fruits and that the contribution from the primary production stage was low. However, the methodology used in this study and the other comparative studies was not necessarily identical; hence, no definitive conclusions can be drawn. Overseas transport and primary production were the main contributors to the total GHG emissions. Including the consumer stage resulted in a 34 % rise in CF, mainly due to high wastage. The main potential reductions of GHG emissions were identified at the primary production, within the overseas transport stage and at the consumer. The carbon footprint of bananas from cradle to retail was 1.37 kg CO2 per kilogram banana. GHG emissions from transport and primary production could be significantly reduced, which could theoretically give a reduction of as much as 44 % of the total cradle-to-retail CF. The methodology was important for the end result. The choice of system boundaries gives very different results depending on which life cycle stages and which unit processes are included. Allocation issues were also important, both in recycling and in other processes such as transport and storage. The main uncertainties of the CF result are connected to N2O emissions from agriculture, methane emissions from landfills, use of secondary data and variability in the primary production data. Thus, there is a need for an internationally agreed calculation method for bananas and other food products if CFs are to be used for comparative purposes.
  • Authors:
    • Amezquita, M. C.
    • Ramirez, B. L.
    • Buurman, P.
    • Mosquera, O.
  • Source: GEODERMA
  • Volume: 189
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: To evaluate the effect of land use change on soil organic carbon, the carbon contents and stocks of primary forest, degraded pasture, and four improved pasture systems in Colombian Amazonia were compared in a flat and a sloping landscape. The improved pastures were Brachiaria humidicola. and Brachiaria decumbens, either in monoculture or in combination with native legumes. The age of the treatments was 30 years for degraded pasture and 10 or 15 years for each of the improved pastures. Carbon fractions were Total C, Oxidizable C, and Non-Oxidizable (stable) C. Stocks were compared using a fixed soil mass base. The degraded pasture in the flat landscape was abandoned and dominated by weeds, while that in the sloping area was overgrazed. The latter had much lower C stocks than the former. B. humidicola monoculture had the highest stocks both in flat and sloping areas, while the effect of the other three treatments varied. C replacement based on delta C-13 indicated that after 30 years, the degraded pasture still contained more than 50% forest-derived C in its topsoil. The fraction in the topsoil that is not replaced roughly coincides with the Stable C fraction. delta C-13 values suggest that the changes in carbon stocks ascribed to differences in land use may be - at least partially - inherited from the previous land use, thus confusing the interpretation of land use effects. Nevertheless, the introduction of improved pastures on degraded grassland is a feasible alternative of land use both for carbon sequestration and as an attractive economic alternative to farmers.
  • Authors:
    • Healey, J.
    • Attarzadeh, N.
    • Soto, G.
    • Haggar, J.
    • Edwards-Jones, G.
    • Noponen, M.
  • Source: Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment
  • Volume: 151
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: Coffee plays a key role in sustaining millions of livelihoods around the world. Understanding GHG emissions from coffee supply chains is important in evaluating options for climate change mitigation within the sector. We use data from two long-term coffee agroforestry experiments in Costa Rica and Nicaragua to calculate carbon footprints (CF) for coffee and identify emission hotspots within different management systems, levels of inputs and shade types. Management system and input level were the main cause of variation in CFs. Carbon footprints for 1 kg of fresh coffee cherries were between 0.26 and 0.67 kgCO(2)e for conventional and 0.12 and 0.52 kgCO(2)e for organic management systems. The main contributor to GHG emissions for all management systems was the inputs of organic and inorganic nitrogen. Nitrous oxide emissions from pruning inputs contributed between 7% and 42% of CFs. However, these estimates were strongly influenced by the choice of emission factor used in the calculations. Research is required to develop emission factors that account for different qualities and management of nitrogen inputs to enable effective calculation of the CF from different management strategies, and especially from the pruning and organic inputs managed in agroforestry systems. As such, effective climate change mitigation strategies can only be developed from site-specific studies which utilise accurate accounting and regional-specific emission factors. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
  • Authors:
    • Vindas, L.
    • Urena, N.
    • Dietsch, T.
    • Castro-Tanzi, S.
    • Chandler, M.
  • Source: Agricultural Ecosystems & Enviroment
  • Volume: 155
  • Year: 2012
  • Summary: Many coffee agroecosystems in Latin America have been transformed with the goal of maximizing yields. In these intensively managed farming systems, inorganic fertilizers are commonly used, with important agronomic, economical and ecological consequences. This study reviews the relationship between fertilizer application, coffee yield and quality indicators and soil chemical properties in coffee farms of the Los Santos region in Costa Rica. The mean nitrogen (N) input rate in farms employing inorganic fertilizer was 21216.7 kg ha -1 y -1. Yield reported by farmers had a positive marginally significant relationship with nutrient application rates. Cup quality attribute responded positively to calcium oxide (CaO) applications. Variables related to production and quality indicators were number of fungicide applications, soil exchangeable calcium (Ca) and acidity, elevation of the terrain, and number of stems per plant. Soil exchangeable Ca was positively correlated with the ratio of crop yield per unit of applied N fertilizer. In those farms with higher N input rates, soil pH was significantly lower. We suggest that the N saturation hypothesis developed for temperate forests under N atmospheric deposition is applicable to this perennial agroecosystem. This hypothesis predicts changes in the soil chemistry and nutrient retention capacity, and a reduction of Net Primary Productivity (NPP).