Climate-smart coffee cultivation: Assessing the impact of biodegradable mulches on weeds, soil moisture and growth of young coffee plants

In response to climate change, coffee growers are increasingly adopting sustainable practices to maintain productivity. Biodegradable mulching materials offer a promising solution to address challenges such as weed management, soil moisture conservation and plant development. A trial was conducted using a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with five mulching treatments viz., coffee pulp waste, weed biomass, dry leaves, biodegradable weed mats (coir mats), paddy straw and a control (no mulch). Coffea arabicacv. Chandragiri was used as the test variety, with four replications. Results indicated that weed suppression ranged from 54 per cent to 75 per cent during the first six months after treatment (MATI). This effect declined to 27 per cent – 46 per cent at 12 MATI and further decreased to 15 per cent – 20 per cent at 18 MATI across various mulching treatments. Growth parameters such as stem girth, number of branches and bush spread showed no significant differences among treatments. However, at 12 MATI, notable improvements were observed in the length of the longest primary branch and the number of primary branches with paddy straw and coffee cherry husk mulches. Additionally, paddy straw, cherry husk and coir mat mulches resulted in marginal improvements in total chlorophyll content, leaf area, and leaf dry weight per plant compared to the control at 12 MATI. Higher soil organic carbon, soil moisture content, and microbial populations were also recorded in mulching treatments compared to the control. In conclusion, biodegradable mulch materials effectively manage weeds, conserve soil moisture, and support the growth and development of young coffee plants. These practices contribute to more resilient and sustainable coffee farming systems, especially under changing climatic conditions.