Injury profiles in coffee are dependent on production situations: case studies in Costa Rica

An injury profile is a combination of injury levels caused by different pests and diseases. A production situation is defined as the combination of factors (physical, biological and socio-economic) determining agricultural production. Linking injury profiles with production situations is a way (i) to identify factors influencing pests and diseases development and (ii) to explore management options to reduce crop losses due to pests and diseases in each specific production situation. We used data from Avelino et al. (2007) where 141 coffee plots from Costa Rica were characterized by assessing 17 variables describing the topo-climatic conditions, the crop management, and the coffee plant characteristics. The incidence of 10 pests and diseases was also evaluated. We demonstrated that injury profiles were determined by a combination of factors (topo-climatic conditions, physiological crop characteristics and cropping practices) in interaction (situation production). Specific management options can be identified to reduce incidence in each combination. We also show that existing trade-offs between yield, ecosystem services provided by shade and pests regulation. Trade-offs must be assessed to propose sustainable solutions. (Résumé d'auteur