Influence of plot features and landscape structure on the epidemics of coffee berry disease (Colletotrichum kahawae Waller & Bridge) in southwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Coffee berry disease (CBD), caused by Colletotrichum kahawae, is a major fungal disease of coffee in east Africa, and particularly in Ethiopia. To assess the influence of plot features (elevation and slope) and landscape structure (land use types) on the epidemics of CBD, a study was conducted in 2012 and 2013 in 30 smallholders’ coffee plots in southwest Ethiopia. Elevation was the most determining plot feature that influenced the incidence of CBD and berry drops. North-facing coffee plots were affected more by CBD compared to south-facing plots. Landscape structure generally had weak relationship with CBD incidence and berry drops. Overall, coffee growers should give more attention to plot features than landscape structure for CBD management.

Keywords:

• Incidence
• land use types
• fragmentation
• elevation
• Ethiopia

Acknowledgenment

The authors also would like to thank Jimma University College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine for logistic support.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

The authors would like to thank Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland for funding through Climate Change Impact on Ecosystem Services and Food Security in East Africa (CHIESA) project and coffee growers in the two districts for allowing us to implement the activity on their coffee farms.