Guatemala’s soils have fared after two centuries of widespread coffee cultivation thanks to our extensive coffee forests which continuously conserve and nourish the soil.

Against erosion
Rainwater runoff is the leading cause of soil erosion and degradation. Forests counteract this problem by acting as a sponge, soaking up rain and moisture and releasing it at regular intervals. Shade trees however retains up to 70% of the humidity that soils need to be fertile.

Scientists have found that Guatemala’s coffee forests prevent as much as 26 million tons of soil from eroding every year.

Need nourishment?

Coffee forests not only protect the soil, they help nourish it. The roots of shade trees reach deep into different soil layers bringing up a variety of nutrients that are then transported to the leaves.

Besides, shade trees constantly drop their leaves creating a dense layer that infuses the soil with nitrogen. This natural fertilization accounts for more than 30 percent of the nitrogen requirement of coffee plants.

Inga shade trees, for example, can provide the soil with up to 20 tons of leaf matter per hectare; infusing the soil with over 274 pounds (124 kilograms) of nitrogen during the rainy season and 147 pounds (67 kilograms) during dry periods.