Simplification of the structure and diversity of cocoa agroforests does not increase yield nor influence frosty pod rot
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Simplification of the structure and diversity of cocoa agroforests does not increase yield nor influence frosty pod rot in El Soconusco, Chiapas, Mexico Angelita Lo´pez-Cruz . Lorena Soto-Pinto Graciela Huerta-Palacios
. Marisela G. Salgado-Mora
.
Received: 3 March 2020 / Accepted: 21 November 2020 Ó The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. part of Springer Nature 2020
Abstract Cocoa is traditionally grown in agroforestry systems (AFS). It is essential to the household and regional economy and plays an important role in natural resource and environmental services conservation. In recent years, the vegetation structure and diversity of cocoa AFS throughout the world are being simplified as farmers consider that the removal of trees helps to increase yields and reduce disease incidence. However, debate exists on the relationship between tree shade and diversity and cocoa yields and the incidence of disease such as frosty pod rot, one of the A. Lo´pez-Cruz Tuxtla Gutierrez Chiapas, Mexico e-mail: [email protected] L. Soto-Pinto (&) El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (ECOSUR), Carretera Panamericana y Perife´rico Sur s.n., Col. Marı´a Auxiliadora, Unidad San Cristo´bal de las Casas, Chiapas 29290, Mexico e-mail: [email protected] M. G. Salgado-Mora Facultad de Ciencias Agrono´micas, Universidad Auto´noma de Chiapas, Campus IV, Huehueta´n, Chiapas 30660, Mexico e-mail: [email protected] G. Huerta-Palacios El Colegio de la Frontera Sur (ECOSUR), Unidad Tapachula, Carretera Antiguo Aeropuerto Km. 2.5, Centro. Tapachula de Co´rdova y Ordon˜ez, Chiapas 30700, Mexico e-mail: [email protected]
most important fungal infections in cocoa cultivation. The objective of this study was to analyze changes in agroforestry structure, plant species diversity, uses, yields, the incidence of frosty pod rot disease in cocoa agroforestry systems, and discuss the consequences of the simplification of this particular AFS in the municipality of Acacoyagua, Chiapas, Mexico. Inventories were carried out in 27 plots. Interviews were applied to families to assess ecological, technical, and productive variables. Incidence of frosty pod rot disease and yields were estimated on-farm and through interviews over a period of 3 years. Multivariate cluster analysis, Pearson correlation analysis, the Levene test for equality of variances and a nonparametric U Mann–Whitney test were carried out. Three types of cocoa agroforests were identified as a result of a structure simplification: (1) traditional cocoa polyculture; (2) cocoa with Legumes Inga spp and Lonchocarpus spp.; and (3) cocoa with diverse, scattered, predominantly wild trees. Fifty species were recorded in shade vegetation, with a diversity index of 3.15. Simplification in tree structure did not have a significant effect on cocoa yield nor on the incidence of frosty pod rot disease. On the contrary, it resulted in a decrease in plant diversity and provisioning of food and other products. Farmers undertake few agricultural
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