Tree species in agroforestry systems (SAFs) with coffee trees in the state of Espirito Santo, Brazil

Abstract

The state of Espírito Santo owns 9.4% of its area occupied with coffee plantations. The cultivation
of coffee trees in agroforestry systems (SAFs) may be an option for the state’s agricultural
properties to achieve an agroecological transition in crops. SAFs could favor interaction with
forest remnants of the Atlantic Forest, in addition to income diversification. This work aimed
to identify and evaluate existing experiences of SAFs with coffee trees conducted by farmers.
Semi-structured interviews were carried out with coffee growers who had production systems
with coffee trees and identified the most promising systems. For coffee beans (Coffea arabica)
the species indicated by coffee growers were the avocado (Persea americana), pupunha (Bactris
gasipaes) and the Australian cedar (Toona ciliata). In addition to the coffee conilon (Coffea
canefora), ambarella (Spondia dulcis Parkinson), arichicha (Sterculia chicha), rubber tree
(Hevea brasiliensis), coconut (Cocos nucifera), australian cedar and jequitiba (Cariniana spp).