DOI: 10.5061/dryad.b935c05
title: Data from: Simplification of shade tree diversity reduces nutrient cycling resilience in coffee agroforestry

description: 1. Agroforestry systems are refuges for biodiversity and provide multiple
 ecosystem functions and services. Diverse multispecies shade tree canopies
 are increasingly replaced by monospecific shade, often dominated by
 non-native tree species. The loss of tree diversity and the nature of the
 dominating tree can have strong implications for ecosystem functions, e.g.
 nutrient cycling ultimately reducing crop production. 2. To understand
 direct and indirect impacts of shade trees on nutrient cycling and crop
 production, we studied coffee agroforestry systems in India along a
 gradient from native multispecies canopies to Grevillea robusta
 (Proteaceae) -dominated canopy cover. We identified 25 agroforests, across
 a broad rainfall and management gradient and assessed litter quantity and
 quality, decomposition, nutrient release, soil fertility and coffee
 nutrient limitations. 3. Increasing G. robusta dominance affected nutrient
 cycling predominantly by; (1) changing of litter phenology, (2) reducing
 phosphorus (P), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), boron (B), and zinc (Zn)
 inputs via litterfall, decelerated litter decomposition and immobilization
 of P and Zn due to low quality litter, (3) reducing soil carbon (C) and
 micronutrients (especially sulphur (S), Mg and B). Coffee plants were
 deficient in several nutrients (nitrogen (N), calcium (Ca), manganese
 (Mn), Mg and S in organic and B in conventional management). (4) Overall
 G. robusta dominated agroforests were characterized by a reduction of P
 cycling due to low inputs, strong immobilization while decomposition and
 antagonistic effects on its release in litter mixtures with coffee. 4.
 Synthesis and applications. The conversion of shade cover in coffee
 agroforestry systems from diverse tree canopies to canopies dominated by
 Grevillea robusta (Proteaceae) reduces the inputs and cycling of several
 micro- and macronutrients. Soil fertility is therefore expected to decline
 in G. robusta dominated systems, with likely impacts on coffee production.
 These negative effects might increase under the longer dry periods
 projected by regional climate change scenarios due to the pronounced
 litter phenology of G. robusta. Maintaining diverse shade canopies can
 more effectively sustain micro- and macronutrients in a more seasonal
 climate.
description: units and
 descriptiondescription and units of
 data in csv filesplantation
 characteristicsCharacteristics of
 plantations; First column is an identifier, second column is the
 plantation number and third column is the plot replicate in the
 plantation. Fourth and fifth columns are the latitude and longitude of the
 plot site, sixth column is the management type, seventh column is the
 annual rainfall, eight and ninth columns are the age and altitude of the
 plantation, tenth and eleventh columns are the coffee age and coffee
 plants per hectare, the last column is the slope. The data has been
 collected in February-May 2013.Shade tree
 characteristicsCharacteristics of shade
 trees; First column is an identifier, second column is the plantation
 number and third column is the plot replicate in the plantation. Fourth
 column is the number of trees per hectare, fifth and sixth columns are the
 stand basal area and mean basal area of the trees, seventh column is the
 percentage of Grevillea robusta trees per plot, column eight is the
 Shannon's diversity index per plot, ninth column is the canopy cover
 at coffee harvest (December). The data has been collected in February 2013
 to December 2014.soil
 characteristicsCharacteristics of the
 soil; First column is an identifier, second column is the plantation
 number and third column is the plot replicate in the plantation. Fourth
 column is the density of the soil, columns five to eight are the soil
 contents of gravel, clay, silt and sand, ninth column is the soil pH,
 tenth column is the cation exchange capacity, eleventh and twelveth
 columns are the total soil carbon and mineral N concentrations in the
 soil, columns thirteen to last are the plant available concentrations of
 P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Mn, Zn, and B. The data has been collected in
 December 2014.Shade tree and coffee
 litter mass and nutrients inputsLitter fall and nutrient
 inputs; First column is an identifier, second column is the plantation
 number and third column is the plot replicate in the plantation.
 Fourth,fifth, sixth and seventh columns are the yearly inputs per hectare
 of total litter, coffee leaf litter, shade tree leaf litter (excluding
 Grevillea robusta leaf litter) and Grevillea robusta leaf litter. The
 columns eight to eighteen are the yearly nutrient inputs per hectare
 through coffee litter, the columns nineteen to twenty nine are the yearly
 nutrient inputs per hectare through shade tree leaf litter. The data has
 been collected in between June 2013 to December 2014.Shade tree and coffee
 litter mass decomposition and nutrient contentsnot decomposed leaf
 litter mass and nutrient contents after 153 days; First column is an
 identifier, second column is the plantation number and third column is the
 plot replicate in the plantation. Fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh columns
 are the not decomposed residues of the standard, coffee leaf litter, shade
 tree leaf litter, mix of shade tree and coffee leaf litter. Columns eight
 to eightteen are the nutrient contents in the not decomposed coffee litter
 residues, Columns nineteen to twenty-nine are the nutrient contents in the
 not decomposed shade tree leaf litter residues. Columns thirty to forty
 are the nutrient contents in the not decomposed mixture of shade tree and
 coffee leaf litter residues.The data has been collected in November
 2014.