Intercropping aromatic plants with coffee (Coffea arabica L.) under greenhouse and field conditions
Most of the natural products that cause allelopathy are secondary metabolism copounds synthesized by plants and microorganisms, and most of the currently identified are present in aromatic plants. Allelopathic and autotoxic effects of coffe plants are well known due to production and accumulation of caffeine in a soluble form in soil. Intercropping aromatic plants with coffe provides some advantages, such as weed control, nutrient recycling, low-external input farming, and extra income for the idle area. But allelopathic interactions are need to be identified. The obtained results in this study didn't show evidence of negative influence from the age of cultivars and accumulation of caffeine in the soil on yield production of aromatic plants. Potential detoxification of caffeine through sage, thyme, and rosemary may diminish toxic accumulation of the allelochemicals in old coffe plantations and increase the production. Results demonstrated the high potential of intercropping coffe with spearmint, basil, and oregano to increase yield production, reduce idle area, and increase profit margins for the small coffee producers.