Effect of shading on the drink quality of conilon coffee in intercrop systems

Abstract

The objective of this work was to analyze the physical and sensorial quality of Conilon coffee beans grown in different shading systems. The management systems evaluated were: unshaded coffee (monoculture coffee in full sun) - PS; coffee intercropped with pupunha trees – CP; coffee intercropped with gliricidia - CG; coffee intercropped with banana – CB, and; coffee intercropped with inga - CI. Physical attributes of the grains and sensorial attributes were evaluated through the evaluation of the quality of the beverage produced in each of the cultivation systems. Tasters certified by the Brazilian Coffee Industry Association evaluated the quality of the beverage. Data were submitted to analysis of variance and means comparison by Tukey (p = 0.05). There was no significant effect on the physical quality of the grains; however, there was a significant effect on the quality of the beverage. The choice of species would use in the consortium with Conilon coffee may influence the sensorial quality of the beverage. The consortium with pupunha trees and or gliricidia indicated for the aggregation of beverage quality in Conilon coffee.