Effect of dominant shade tree species on selected soil physicochemical properties and coffee production in Sayyo district, western Ethiopia

The current study aimed to assess the preference of farmers and their perception of shade tree species on coffee production and to evaluate selected soil physicochemical properties under the canopies of Acacia abyssinica and Albizia gummifera shade tree species and the influence of these trees on coffee production in comparison with unshaded fields. Two-stage sampling technique was used to select respondents for this study. Four circular plots having 3, 5, and 7 m radius and 17 m were laid out to sample soil and coffee parameters. The top six ranked tree species preferred by farmers were, Acacia abyssinica Albizia gummifera, Croton macrostachyus, Cordia Africana, Millettia ferruginea, and Erythrina abyssinica. The soil organic matter, total nitrogen, available phosphorous, exchangeable potassium, and soil pH were higher underneath shade trees than in open areas. Soils tested under shade trees and in open areas were texturally similar, (sandy clay loam). This pattern of textural similarity indicated that they have been derived from the same parent material. There was greater coffee yield, coffee weight, and coffee shrub density under the tree canopy than in open fields. Generally, Coffee production parameters and coffee yield under the canopies of both shade tree species and selected soil physicochemical properties showed relatively higher than those of unshaded zones. Therefore, integrating Acacia abyssinica and Albizia gummifera shade trees in coffee production systems is very important in maintaining soil fertility and thereby increasing the yield of organic coffee.