Coffee plants in agroforestry systems is an alternative to full sunlight cultivation, presenting the potential benefits of enhancing soil chemical and physical characteristics, reducing soil erosion, besides maintaining soil moisture for longer periods. This research aimed at comparing the quantity and nutrient concentration in the litter, soil fertility and soil moisture in coffee crops under full sunlight monocrop and in agroforestry systems, at the Zona da Mata, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The research was carried out between January 1999 and May 2000. The agroforestry system, contributed with 6.1 Mg ha-1 year-1 of litter dry matter while the monoculture produced 4.5 Mg ha-1 year-1, which presented higher nutrient content. The litter in monoculture presented higher nutrient content. The agroforestry system presented higher soil moisture content (20-40 cm depth) and K, Ca, Mg, Sum of Basis, Cation Exchange Capacity, Cu and Zn levels in both soil depth, besides lower aluminum saturation and Al values in deeper layer than soil of monocrop coffee. Soil under monoculture presented higher P and organic matter content than agroforestry system.
Nutrient; litter; soil moisture
