2025/04/01 by Emma Kiup, Tom Swan, Damien J. Field · 1 voice
Agricultural and Biological Sciences · Business, Management and Accounting · Medicine · #Agriculture, Land Use, Rural Development #Coffee research and impacts #Global trade, sustainability, and social impact
paper · pdf · doi:10.1111/sum.70068
openalex publication_date 2025/04/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/30
Abstract Soil degradation resulting from poor soil management practices is a major problem worldwide. In Papua New Guinea (PNG), the poor access to resources and lack of soil knowledge may lead to the unintended adoption of poor soil management practices in coffee production systems. This study seeks to identify the best soil management practices in the Asia‐Pacific region and evaluate their suitability to PNG coffee farming systems based on how these practices align with the specific environmental, social and economic conditions of PNG coffee farmers. The assessment will consider criteria focused on type of and access to resources, impacts on labour and translation of soil knowledge that offer tangible benefits to farmers. To achieve this, a systematic literature review focused on the main coffee‐producing countries in the Asia‐Pacific region, namely, Vietnam, Indonesia, India, Thailand, China, Malaysia and the Philippines. Following eligibility criteria, a total of 74 peer‐reviewed articles were sourced from both Scopus and Web of Science databases, covering the period 2000–2024. Key soil management practices identified included agroforestry (through intercropping or shading), nutrient management and soil erosion control. Overall, the studies emphasized the critical impact of these practices on soil health, with many assessing the soil quality to evaluate sustainability. Based on the criteria outlined, practices that target intercropping with nutrient‐enhancing legumes and strategic pruning can further enhance yields and improve soil health. Such practices already integrate well into many coffee systems, as intercropping with legume trees or crops is commonly used to improve soil fertility and provide shade, while strategic pruning is a standard practice to optimize plant productivity, manage pests and diseases and regulate the coffee microclimate. Additional research and farmer education on effective composting methods, shade management and crop selection can empower smallholders to adopt sustainable practices that improve productivity and resilience in coffee agroforestry systems.