Sustainability of Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica L.) - based agroforestry system in Atok, Benguet Province, Philippines / Conrado C. Bao-Idang ; Roberto G. Visco, chair, advisory committee.

Date

12-2015

Abstract

The study assessed the sustainability of the Arabica coffee-based agroforestry systems in Atok, Benguet, Philippines. Specifically, it aimed to: a) determine the ecological and socio-economic factors, and cultural plantation practices that affect the Arabica coffee-based agroforestry systems; and b) to analyze the sustainability of Arabica coffee-based agroforestry systems using the socio-economic, ecological, and cultural plantation practices or sustainability indicators. The study was established in a split-split plot design with two evaluation ranges as main plots, two nurse trees as subplots, and three coffee age ranges as sub-subplots. Interview and ocular survey were also included to obtain data on socio-economic and cultural plantation practices of farmers. The sustainability indicators and corresponding sub-indicators under each were given a corresponding value weight and rated based on established threshold level and using likert scale. The ecological factors considered are temperature, rainfall, biodiversity, litterfall production and NPK contents, decomposition rate, soil properties (N, P, K, OM, pH and BD), and sheet erosion rate. These factors were assessed as moderately to highly sustainable with an overall rating of 'moderately sustainable' and average weighted means (AWM) of 2.28. Socio-economic sustainability based on respondents' economic factors: gross income, coffee farm net income, coffee farm initial investment, coffee yield, coffee buyers, management risks and external support services was rated; and social factors: respondents' quality of life, membership in organizations, and peace and order situation of the community was rated 'moderately sustainable' with AWM of 2.17. The respondents' Arabica coffee silvicultural practices also obtained an overall 'moderately sustainable' rating with 2.46 AWM. The overall result showed that the Arabica coffee-based agroforestry system is 'moderately suitable' based on combined ecological and socio-economic characteristics, and silvicultural practices with an overall AWM of 2.29. Promotion of the coffee-based agroforestry system for expansion, and sustained external supports and further studies to improve its sustainability are strongly recommended.

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree

Doctor of Philosophy in Forestry

College

Graduate School (GS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Roberto G. Visco

Committee Member

Wilfredo M. Carandang, Nelson M. Pampolina, Arturo SA. Castillo, Roberto G. Visco

Language

English

LC Subject

Agroforestry systems, Coffee plantations -- Benguet (Philippines : Province), Agroforestry systems -- Benguet (Philippines : Province), Forestry : Silviculture and Forest Influences Institute of Renewable Natural Resources

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

LG 996 2015 F65 B36

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