Benefits and costs of epiphyte management in shade coffee plantations

• Epiphyte removal from shade trees significantly increased coffee production.
• Controlled epiphyte harvesting is recommended in large coffee plantations.
• Naturally fallen epiphytes can be suitable for commercialization.
• Epiphytes have high potential for commercialization.

While epiphytes contribute to the biodiversity and structural complexity of shade coffee, their removal from the shade trees is a common management practice in Latin America. We studied the impact of epiphyte removal on coffee productivity and the potential for epiphyte harvesting in a large coffee plantation (200 ha), and measured the supply of naturally fallen epiphytes in two small coffee plantations (<10 ha) unsuitable for epiphyte harvesting due to low epiphyte recovery rates following removal. Ten trees were stripped of all epiphytes (E−) and a further ten trees were used as control (E+) in the large coffee plantation. Four coffee plants under each tree canopy were selected and the production of flowers and fruits was registered over two consecutive years. Photosynthetic Active Radiation (PAR), relative humidity and temperature were also measured under the canopy of all 20 trees. To estimate the potential harvest of epiphytic bromeliads in the large coffee plantation, all the plants stripped from the ten trees were recorded. The supply of naturally fallen epiphytes was recorded in ten plots (5 × 5 m) in the two small coffee plantations. From January to June, all fallen plants inside these plots were collected monthly, identified, measured and their condition recorded. Finally, we conducted a cost-benefit analysis of epiphyte management in coffee plantations. Epiphyte removal had a significant positive effect on coffee productivity; coffee plants produced 225% and 366% more flowers and fruits, respectively. Epiphyte removal significantly increased mean PAR, but had no effect on temperature and relative humidity. At the large coffee plantation 48 species of vascular epiphytes were registered, 20 of which were bromeliads. On average 727 ± 227 bromeliad rosettes were recorded per individual tree (considering all bromeliad species). In the small coffee plantations, 33 and 37 vascular epiphyte species were recorded, 21 of which were bromeliads. Approximately 21% of fallen epiphytes at the small coffee plantations were in a condition suitable for commercialization. Considering all the species and only plants in suitable condition, approximately 2252 ± 397 and 1421 ± 166 plants ha−1 per month could be collected for commercialization from the small coffee plantations. The potential profits from the sale of bromeliads can be considerable; $ 8923 USD ha−1 y−1 from direct harvesting, and $6857 to $11070 USD ha−1 y−1 from collection from the ground. A controlled rotation system of epiphyte harvesting should be implemented in large coffee plantations in order to allow the recuperation of the epiphytic community. Collection of fallen epiphytes is recommended in the small coffee plantations that represent the majority in Central Veracruz. Appropriate management of epiphytes in shade coffee plantations could contribute to an income diversification for coffee farmers with potential for replication in other countries.