Advantages, disadvantages and desirable characteristics of shade trees for coffee, cacao and tea

Abstract

A review is made of the ecological interactions that occur between shade trees and the perennial crops: coffee (Coffea spp. L.), cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) and tea (Camellia sinensis L. Kuntze). These interactions are classified firstly as advantages or disadvantages, and secondly as: effect on crop management effects on the hydrological cycle effects on pathogens, insects and climatic conditions and effects on soils. References are given for the 20 advantageous and 16 disadvantageous consequences of using shade trees, emphasizing publications that provide original data and useful methodologies. Finally a check list of desirable characteristics for perennial crop shade trees is presented. (Resumen tomado CATIE-ST BT-5).