Shade trees in coffee farms are promoted worldwide for ecological sustainability and adaptation to climate change. However, contradicting reports on the effects of shade trees in coffee agroforestry systems are emanating from Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica) farmers. Therefore, this study: (1) characterized the shade trees in Arabica coffee-based agroforestry system; (2) identified the tree selection criteria used; (3) identified the sources of planting materials; and (4) determined the major factors affecting the growing of shade trees under the Arabica coffee-based system of Mount Elgon. A cross-sectional survey was carried out in randomly selected coffee farms with and without shade trees. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to 107 coffee farmers. Fourteen shade tree species were recorded, and the six most abundant were: Albizia coriaria, Cordia africana, Ficus ovata, Ficus synchromonous, Maesopsis eminii and Grevillea robusta. Least abundant species were Eucalyptus species, Antiaris toxicaria, Artocarpous heterophylus, Mangifera indica and Milicia excelsa. Farmers selected shade trees which were fast growing, had small leaf sizes, with wide crowns, ever-green and of medium height. Fellow farmers were the main source of shade-tree planting materials (P ≤ 0.05). Barriers to shade tree use included resource competition and falling trees damaging the understorey. The results underscore the need for site-specific provision of appropriate shade tree coffee mixes and strategies by policy and development partners for transformation of shaded coffee farming landscapes and livelihoods for improved coffee production.

为了生态可持续性和适应气候变化，咖啡农场中的遮荫树在世界范围内得到推广。然而，关于遮荫树在咖啡农林业系统中的影响的报告来自阿拉比卡咖啡（Coffea arabica) 农民。因此，本研究：（1）表征了以阿拉比卡咖啡为基础的农林业系统中的遮荫树；(2) 确定使用的树木选择标准；(3)确定种植材料的来源；(4) 确定了影响埃尔贡山阿拉比卡咖啡系统下遮荫树生长的主要因素。在有和没有遮荫树的随机选择的咖啡农场中进行了横断面调查。对 107 名咖啡农进行了半结构化问卷调查。记录了 14 种遮荫树种，其中最丰富的 6 种是：合欢树、非洲树冠、卵形榕、同步榕、长叶榕和罗布麻。最不丰富的物种是桉树物种，Antiaristoxicaria、Artocarpousheterophylus、Mangifera indica和Milicia excelsa。农民选择生长快、叶小、树冠宽、常绿、中等高度的遮荫树。农户是遮荫树种植材料的主要来源（P  ≤ 0.05）。使用遮荫树的障碍包括资源竞争和倒下的树木损坏下层。结果强调了政策和发展合作伙伴需要针对特定​​地点提供适当的遮荫树咖啡混合物和策略，以改变遮荫咖啡种植景观和生计以改善咖啡生产。