Avaliação do crescimento inicial da cultura do cafeeiro em sistemas agroflorestais no cerrado mineiro, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais

Abstract

Agricultural expansion in the Cerrado requires production models that reconcile yield with climate resilience. This dissertation evaluated the initial growth of coffee (Coffea arabica L. cultivar Mundo Novo) in biodiverse Agroforestry Systems (AFSs) and in a diversified vegetable garden area, aiming to understand the influence of these systems on the initial vegetative development of the crop in the Uberlândia-MG region. Biometric parameters (height, stem diameter, and number of leaf pairs) were analyzed, along with their correlation with shading dynamics, associated biodiversity, and the physical and chemical attributes of the soil in different AFS arrangements. The research was conducted at two sites with distinct forest compositions and soil types. The experiment consisted of seven treatments, each corresponding to a single plot. Each plot contained three planting lines with 30 coffee seedlings per line, totaling 90 individuals per treatment and 630 plants overall (7 treatments × 90 seedlings). Over the crop cycle, nine biometric evaluations were carried out, recording data on plant height, stem diameter, number of leaf pairs, and count of established plants for all individuals. The methodology included nine biometric evaluations over one year, quantitative measurement of light intensity at different points within the systems, and a detailed floristic survey to characterize biodiversity. Biometric data were analyzed using the non-parametric Friedman test. The results showed that the oldest AFSs (established in 2015 and 2019) provided the best conditions for initial establishment, with significantly superior performance in all growth variables compared to the full-sun area. Light intensity analysis revealed a shading gradient directly related to the age and structural complexity of the systems, while the floristic survey evidenced greater species diversity in the more consolidated AFSs. It is concluded that the structure and maturity of the AFSs were decisive for creating a favorable microclimate and for the successful initial establishment of coffee in the Cerrado, suggesting that this model offers an effective strategy to increase crop resilience. The results indicate that different agroforestry designs influence the initial growth dynamics of coffee. Based on these results, future investigations focusing on the specific characteristics and challenges of coffee farming in the region are proposed.