Balancing fine cocoa production and ecosystem services in agroforestry systems

Abstract
This study addresses the provision of ecosystem services by smallholder fine flavor cocoa agroforestry
systems from Ecuador. Understanding the factors that influence the provision of ecosystem services,
and the interactions between ecosystem services in cocoa agroforestry systems can serve to design
multifunctional agroecosystems that support high levels of food production while also contributing to
social and environmental goals. The following ecosystem services were measured: cocoa productivity
(yield), carbon storage (aboveground carbon), disease control (disease incidence of moniliasis and
witches’ broom), biodiversity (shade tree diversity), and soil quality (soil structure and soil life). The
effect of management practices and the characteristics of shade trees on the provision of ecosystem
services was also assessed. And finally, trade-offs and synergies between ecosystem services were
identified.
The studied cocoa farms (n=40) had an average cocoa yield of 282 kg ha-1 yr-1. Moniliasis infection was
present in an average of 39% of the trees of the farms. Whereas witches’ broom infection was present
in an average of 87% of the trees of the studied farms. The cocoa agroforestry systems stored in
average 65.5 t C ha-1, and the mean number of shade tree species was 5.6. Soil quality indicators
collected from visual soil assessment were recorded.
Irrigation was the only management practice that significantly improved cocoa yield. Other
management practices did not have a significant effect on yield. Cocoa age showed a negative effect
on disease control. And banana density negatively influenced carbon storage and shade tree diversity.
The results suggest there is room for improvement of the organic management practices currently in
use.
Significant interactions between ecosystem services were found. All of the statistically significant
interactions between ecosystem services were synergies. Our results show that shade diversity and
soil fertility positively influence disease control. Whereas soil quality has a positive effect on carbon
storage.
It is concluded that the diversity of shade and the density of banana trees are important factors of the
structure of cocoa agroforestry systems, that determine the provision of ecosystem services.
Irrigation, and cocoa age influence the provision of some ecosystem services, and the use of optimal
organic management practices could potentially improve the provision of ecosystem services. Finally,
synergies between ecosystem services were identified. This research contributes to the understanding
of ecosystem service provision by smallholder fine-flavor cocoa farms, which can serve to design
multifunctional cocoa agroecosystems that provide the greater number of benefits.