Increases in temperature and more erratic rainfall patterns due to climate change threaten the already fragile livelihood of smallholder coffee farmers. Shaded coffee in agroforestry systems appear to be a good alternative to protect coffee from extreme temperatures while providing additional ecosystem services, such as extra food and soil protection. However, excessive shade might reduce coffee yields. This study analyzed the effect of shade cover (shade type represented by cropping system (Coffee-Open (CO), Coffee-Banana (CB), Coffee-shade tree (CT))), and shade intensity (represented by leaf area index of the shade cover) along an altitude gradient on: (i) microclimate, (ii) soil water content and (iii) coffee reproductive and vegetative growth. Data was collected during two coffee fruit development cycles (2015 and 2016) in smallholder coffee farms (n = 27) on the west slopes of Mt. Elgon Uganda. Shade cover buffered coffee trees from microclimate extremes (maximum temperature (- 3 °C) and temperature amplitude - 3 °C). Fruit set decreased with shade cover increases. Leaf set was shown to be the most important variable for vegetative and reproductive growth along several production cycles, and fruit drop was determined mainly by fruit set. Intermediated shade cover (LAI ~ 1 m² m⁻²), as occurred in coffee intercropped with bananas, showed an optimal balance between microclimate regulations, fruit set, and fruit drop, and provided staple food and an extra source of income.

由于气候变化，气温升高和降雨模式更加不稳定，威胁着小农咖啡农本已脆弱的生计。农林业系统中的遮荫咖啡似乎是保护咖啡免受极端温度影响的良好替代方案，同时提供额外的生态系统服务，例如额外的食物和土壤保护。然而，过度遮荫可能会降低咖啡产量。本研究分析了遮荫度（以种植系统（Coffee-Open (CO)、Coffee-Banana (CB)、Coffee-shade tree (CT)) 为代表的阴影类型）和遮荫强度（以叶面积指数表示）的影响。阴凉处）沿着海拔梯度：（i）小气候，（ii）土壤含水量和（iii）咖啡繁殖和营养生长。数据是在乌干达山西坡的小农咖啡农场（n = 27）的两个咖啡果实开发周期（2015 年和 2016 年）中收集的。来自极端微气候（最高温度 (- 3 °C) 和温度幅度 - 3 °C）的树荫覆盖缓冲咖啡树。坐果减少，遮荫增加。在几个生产周期中，落叶是营养和生殖生长的最重要变量，落果主要由坐果决定。中间遮光罩 (LAI ~ 1 m 在几个生产周期中，落叶是营养和生殖生长的最重要变量，落果主要由坐果决定。中间遮光罩 (LAI ~ 1 m 在几个生产周期中，落叶是营养和生殖生长的最重要变量，落果主要由坐果决定。中间遮光罩 (LAI ~ 1 m² m ^-2 )，如咖啡与香蕉间作所发生的那样，显示了小气候调节、坐果和落果之间的最佳平衡，并提供了主食和额外的收入来源。