Experiência com tecnificação do café sombreado na região do Maciço de Baturité - Ceará

Abstract

The coffee planting process has gone through different stages during the history of Brazil, playing an important role in the construction of its economy. Coffee is one of the most constant products in world agribusiness because, in addition to cultural influence, it impacts socioeconomic formation. It has being responsible for the generation of jobs and income distribution in many sectors of the production chain. Currently, one of the main methods of planting coffee is shade management. Thus, this study aims to report experiences about the work developed with the modality of planting shaded coffee in the role of an agronomist in training, using techniques and scientific knowledge acquired at the university. The work was carried out at the company Sítio Bom Princípio, located in the municipality of Guaramiranga, Ceará. The study discusses the shaded coffee technique compared to traditional ways of planting coffee. Based on field experience, this study approached the discussion about shaded coffee, thus indicating its characteristics, the way of application, the results obtained and the main advantages and disadvantages when compared to the traditional cultivation model in full sun. Some of the main activities involving coffee shading presented in this study are: cleaning the areas; soil analysis, preparation and correction; tree pruning; irrigation; foundation fertilization; planting and pest and disease control. Based on the experiences and observed data, it is possible to affirm the effectiveness and the shading model used in coffee in more arid regions where the properties that were part of the study are located.