https://photos.prnewswire.com/prnvar/20150708/234302
The locations on our planet where coffee grows successfully have a direct correlation with geology in regards to: latitude, climate, topography, altitude, and soil (nutrients available, and longevity of availability). Some key factors we’re going to look at in this section are on how climate and topography play large roles in the loss of soil due to runoff and erosion in rainy seasons. Since Costa Rica is a renowned country for its coffee production and quality, research was done in the very reputable coffee growing region, Pirris watershed, 2 km west of San José. They grow 25% of the coffee for Costa Rica in ranging soil types from Ultisol, Ferrasol, and Acrisol, from sedimentary parent material, with clay texture, a 170 cm average soil depth and good drainage. Naturally, Ultisols are incredibly weathered found normally in warm and humid climates, usually on older geologic locations in intensely weathered parent material. Now when this soil is used for growing coffee on medium hills, to steep slopes, enduring an average of ±2,500mm of rainfall each year, erosion and run off pose serious problems for the farmers and the coffee producers. What’s interesting about this research on erosion rates between medium slope faces to steep faces, is that there isn’t a definitive answer as to which erodes more or less. Some steep slopes eroded and had less run off than the less steep slopes, and vice versa; however, what did have a role in run off and erosion rates came down to ‘good soil coverage’ and micro terracing done by the farmers. These practices helped combat the harsh weathering that poses grave threat to their crop yield and by doing so, are able to maintain successful growing environments for their coffee trees.
1. http://www.sciencedirect.com.evergreen.idm.oclc.org/science/article/pii/S002216941500075X
2. http://passel.unl.edu/pages/informationmodule.php?idinformationmodule=1130447032&topicorder=10&maxto=14
https://photos.prnewswire.com/prnvar/20150708/234302