Productivity of Nine Coffee Varieties Growing under Intensive Management in Full Sunlight and Partial Shade in the Coffee Region of Puerto Rico

Abstract

The productivity of nine varieties of coffee, grown with intensive management in full sunlight and beneath shade trees under typical conditions in the Coffee Region of Puerto Rico, were determined. Much higher yields were produced by all varieties when grown in full sunlight than in about a 30-percent shade provided by trees. The Mundo Nuevo and Puerto Rico 401 varieties were the highest yielders in full sunlight, averaging well over 2,000 pounds of market coffee per acre yearly. Columnaris was lowest. There was little difference in yields of the Red and Yellow Bourbon, Kent, Caturra, Pacas, and Villalobos varieties under these conditions. There was little difference in the productivity of the various varieties when grown under shade trees. Somewhat larger beans were produced by all varieties when grown under shade than in full sunlight. The Mundo Nuevo and Puerto Rico 401 varieties yielded a high proportion of large-sized beans. There was no sharp difference in the proportion of commercial-grade beans, >15/64 inch in width, produced by the different varieties either in full sunlight or under shade trees. Shading had no appreciable effect on the ratio of berries to market coffee, but there were marked varietal differences. The Mundo Nuevo and Puerto Rico 401 varieties had the narrowest ratios, producing about 5 pounds of market coffee for every 28 pounds (20 liters or 1 almud) of berries. Neither shading nor varieties had any important effect on the proportion of abnormal beans. Shading considerably delayed ripening of the coffee berries and berries of the Caturra variety ripened considerably later than those of the other varieties studied.