Soil Quality Indicators under Conventional and Organic Coffee Farming Systems in Rwanda

Aims: The aim of this study was to assess the soil quality under conventional and organic coffee farming Systems

Study Design: Two farming systems were selected: Conventional and Organic systems under coffee plantations.

Place and Duration of Study: This study was carried out between May 2021 and March 2022. The soil samples were collected from Karaba coffee growers’ cooperative (KOAKAKA) within Karambi coffee washing station zone in Kigoma Sector of Huye District, Southern Province of Rwanda. The soil samples were analyzed in Research and postgraduate laboratory of soil and plant at University of Rwanda Biotechnology Laboratory Complex.

Methodology: The soil samples were collected across three selected plots from each coffee production system under study. Both disturbed and non-disturbed soil samples were collected from each plot at (0–30 cm) depth to assess selected soil quality indicators.

Results: This study found a significant difference in total organic carbon, organic matter and earthworms abundance between two studied systems. The findings also revealed higher aggregate stability, electrical conductivity, moisture content, soil pH water in the organic coffee farming system than conventional coffee farming system with 0.665, 0.051 (dS/m), 23.84 (%), 5.47 respectively.

Conclusion: Organic farming system provided higher soil qualities, it could improve soil conditions and reduce the demand for inorganic fertilizers hence improve people’s livelihood.