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<p>This study investigates the soil nutrient status of coffee fields in the Gedeo Zone (1,347&#xa0;km<sup>2</sup>) of southern Ethiopia, a region recognized for its multi-storey agroforestry systems and premium ‘Yirgacheffe’ coffee (<i>Coffea Arabica</i> L.), a specialty cultivar prized for its unique floral and citrus flavor profiles. The study aims to address concerns of declining productivity and ensure sustainable management. Soil samples were collected from 12 representative homegarden coffee plots in two distinct agroclimatic zones: midland (Woyna Dega) and lowland (Kola). The analysis focused on characterizing key soil physicochemical properties to assess their suitability for coffee production and to compare fertility between the two zones. The findings reveal that while organic carbon and total nitrogen were significantly higher in midland areas, most other key soil parameters, including pH, available potassium, calcium, magnesium, and Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC), showed no statistically significant differences (<i>p</i> &gt; 0.05) between the two zones. The soils were generally moderately to slightly acidic with a mean pH of 6.3, which is conducive to coffee cultivation. While traditional agroforestry systems maintain high levels of soil organic matter and most essential exchangeable cations (e.g., K⁺, Ca<sup>2</sup>⁺, Mg<sup>2</sup>⁺), our findings provide critical, spatially-explicit evidence of an emerging nutrient imbalance, most notably a widespread deficiency in available phosphorus, with 70% of sites below optimum levels. The identified phosphorus deficiency constitutes a critical limiting factor for coffee production, potentially compromising plant health and the overall sustainability of the agroforestry system. It is, therefore, imperative that immediate and targeted interventions that focus on integrated phosphorus management are implemented, such as the application of phosphorus-rich organic amendments (e.g., compost from poultry manure) and the judicious use of <i>P</i>-containing inorganic fertilizers. This study provides critical data for developing targeted soil fertility management strategies, which are crucial for ensuring the long-term environmental and economic sustainability of the unique ‘Yirgacheffe’ coffee agroforestry landscape and for safeguarding the livelihoods that depend upon it.</p>

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Soil fertility status and nutrient management implications for Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica L.) in the Gedeo Zone’s agroforestry systems, Southern Ethiopia

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2025年11月4日

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  • Melesse Maryo,
  • Daniel Fitamo,
  • Firew Kebede

摘要

This study investigates the soil nutrient status of coffee fields in the Gedeo Zone (1,347 km2) of southern Ethiopia, a region recognized for its multi-storey agroforestry systems and premium ‘Yirgacheffe’ coffee (Coffea Arabica L.), a specialty cultivar prized for its unique floral and citrus flavor profiles. The study aims to address concerns of declining productivity and ensure sustainable management. Soil samples were collected from 12 representative homegarden coffee plots in two distinct agroclimatic zones: midland (Woyna Dega) and lowland (Kola). The analysis focused on characterizing key soil physicochemical properties to assess their suitability for coffee production and to compare fertility between the two zones. The findings reveal that while organic carbon and total nitrogen were significantly higher in midland areas, most other key soil parameters, including pH, available potassium, calcium, magnesium, and Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC), showed no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) between the two zones. The soils were generally moderately to slightly acidic with a mean pH of 6.3, which is conducive to coffee cultivation. While traditional agroforestry systems maintain high levels of soil organic matter and most essential exchangeable cations (e.g., K⁺, Ca2⁺, Mg2⁺), our findings provide critical, spatially-explicit evidence of an emerging nutrient imbalance, most notably a widespread deficiency in available phosphorus, with 70% of sites below optimum levels. The identified phosphorus deficiency constitutes a critical limiting factor for coffee production, potentially compromising plant health and the overall sustainability of the agroforestry system. It is, therefore, imperative that immediate and targeted interventions that focus on integrated phosphorus management are implemented, such as the application of phosphorus-rich organic amendments (e.g., compost from poultry manure) and the judicious use of P-containing inorganic fertilizers. This study provides critical data for developing targeted soil fertility management strategies, which are crucial for ensuring the long-term environmental and economic sustainability of the unique ‘Yirgacheffe’ coffee agroforestry landscape and for safeguarding the livelihoods that depend upon it.