Carbon Storage in Coffee Agroforestry Systems: Role of Native and Introduced Shade Trees in the Central Peruvian Amazon

Noelito Salgado Veramendi, Lorena Estefani Romero-Chavez (), Eldhy Sianina Huerto Pajuelo, Carolina del Carmen Ibarra Porras, Joseph Michael Cunyas-Camayo, Uriel Aldava Pardave, Geomar Vallejos-Torres and Richard Solórzano Acosta
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Noelito Salgado Veramendi: Dirección de Desarrollo Tecnológico Agrario, Instituto Nacional de Innovación Agraria (INIA), Estación Experimental Agraria (EEA) Pucallpa, Pucallpa 25002, Peru
Lorena Estefani Romero-Chavez: Dirección de Servicios Estratégicos Agrarios, Instituto Nacional de Innovación Agraria (INIA), EEA Pichanaki, Pichanaqui 12865, Peru
Eldhy Sianina Huerto Pajuelo: Facultad de Recursos Naturales Renovables, Universidad Nacional Agraria de la Selva, Tingo María 10131, Peru
Carolina del Carmen Ibarra Porras: Facultad de Recursos Naturales Renovables, Universidad Nacional Agraria de la Selva, Tingo María 10131, Peru
Joseph Michael Cunyas-Camayo: Dirección de Servicios Estratégicos Agrarios, Instituto Nacional de Innovación Agraria (INIA), EEA Pichanaki, Pichanaqui 12865, Peru
Uriel Aldava Pardave: Dirección de Servicios Estratégicos Agrarios, Instituto Nacional de Innovación Agraria (INIA), EEA Pucallpa, Pucallpa 25002, Peru
Geomar Vallejos-Torres: Dirección de Servicios Estratégicos Agrarios, Instituto Nacional de Innovación Agraria (INIA), EEA El Porvenir, Juan Guerra 22202, Peru
Richard Solórzano Acosta: Dirección de Servicios Estratégicos Agrarios, Instituto Nacional de Innovación Agraria (INIA), Centro Experimental La Molina, Lima 15024, Peru

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 13, 1-27

Abstract: What is the potential impact on carbon storage of the native and introduced tree species commonly associated with coffee in the central Peruvian Amazon? Coffee is a pivotal crop within the Peruvian economy. Nevertheless, the establishment of new plantations—driven by the subsistence needs of smallholder farmers—has led to expansion into forested areas. Given the significance of this crop and the demonstrated ecosystem benefits of agroforestry systems (AFSs), the aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of native and introduced shade tree species on carbon storage in coffee plantations. This study was observational and exhibited characteristics of an unbalanced incomplete block design. Agroforestry systems (AFSs) with shade tree species such as Inga , Retrophyllum rospigliosii , Eucalyptus and Pinus , and three unshaded coffee plantations, were included in this study. The total carbon stored in each AFS was higher than in unshaded coffee plantations. Soil contributed between 47% and 91% to total carbon storage, shade trees (24–46%), coffee (2–7%), leaf litter (0.6–1.9%) and shrubs and herbaceous plants (0.02–0.3%). The AFS with R. rospigliosii achieved the highest carbon storage with 190.38 Mg ha −1 , highlighting the compatibility of this species with coffee plantations, as well as its positive effect on climate change mitigation in deforested areas.

Keywords: coffee; agroforestry system; shade trees; carbon storage; biomass; Retrophyllum rospigliosii (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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