Agroforrestry

Land husbandry that utilizes tree species mixed with crops.

Agronomy

The application of various soil and plant sciences to soil management and crop production. The science and technology of producing and using plants for food and other uses.

Alluvial Soils

Soils formed by materials (e.g., sand, silt, clay, gravel and other debris) transported by water.

Altitude

The height of an object or point in relation to sea level. Generally measured as meters above sea level (masl).

Anthesis

The time period in which flowers bloom.

Aspect

The compass direction to which a hill or mountain slope faces. Aspect has a large impact on the amount and quality of radiation (light) a slope has.

Bedrock

The parent rock underlying soil, which in most situations forms the basic constituents of the area’s soil.

Canopy

Cover provided by the leaves of taller plants, such as trees.

Chemical Fertilizers

All fertilizers serve the purpose of delivering specific chemical compounds to plants to promote health and/or growth. Chemical fertilizers are created synthetically (inorganically) in factories rather than in nature. in this process, nitrogen and hydrogen gases from the atmosphere are converted to ammonia in an energy-intensive process that utilizes high temperatures and pressure. Chemical fertilizers are just as effective as organic fertilizers and are often more concentrated or less expensive than organic fertilizers.

Clay Soils

Soils with a high percentage of fine particles, technically classified as particles with a diameter smaller than 0.002 millimeters.

Denitrification

The natural microbial process of removing nitrogen or nitrogen compounds from soil or other low-oxygen ecosystems, specifically by the reduction of nitrates by bacteria, which results in the escape of nitrogen gas (N2) into the air.

Dieback

An affliction of coffee or other plants where branches die off, which may lead to the death of the main stem of the plant. Many plants exhibit localized dieback during a nutrient or water deficiency. The exact cause if often unknown.

Diurnal Temperature Range or Variation

The temperature range between daytime high and nighttime lows. Known to be biologically important due to its effect on plant metabolism and water balance.

Ecosystem

A system or community composed of the living organisms and physical environment functioning and interacting together as a unit. Can be used to describe a variety of natural or human-influenced systems at multiple scales.

Endemic

Being unique to a define geographic location, such as an island, nation or habitat type. Coffea arabica is endemic to Ethiopia and neighboring regions in East Africa.

Eutrophication

The process by which a body of water becomes enriched in dissolved nutrients (such as phosphates or nitrates) that stimulate the growth of aquatic plant life usually resulting in the depletion of dissolved oxygen and frequent algae blooms.

Evapotranspiration

Loss of water from the ecosystem by both evaporation from soil and transpiration from plants.

Field Capacity

The maximum quantity of water that can be held by soil. Any excess should be drained away if possible, otherwise soil becomes waterlogged.

Foliar Application

Technique of feeding plants by applying liquid fertilizer directly to their leaves. Often used to distribute micronutrients such as boron or zinc. Macronutrients are better administered through fertilizers applied to soils.

Fungicide

A specific type of chemical or physical agent that kills or inhibits the growth of a fungal pathogen. Not all diseases caused by fungi can be adequately controlled by fungicide.

Herbarium (Plural: Herbaria)

A repository of preserved and labeled plant specimens for use in scientific study. The term can refer to the collection or the place/institution where that collection is kept.

Herbicide

Pesticides used to kill or inhibit the growth of plants. Those that target specific plants or groups of plants are called selective herbicides.

Humus

Broken down organic material, derived from the microbial decomposition of plant and animal matter. Humus contains many useful nutrients for healthy soil, such as nitrogen. Humus can be produced naturally or through composting.

Indigenous

A species native to a given region or ecosystem if the species presence in the region is not the result of human intervention.

Insecticide

A pesticide used to kill, deter or control insects. They are often described by their mode of action, such as systemic insecticide or contact insecticide. Can be organic or inorganic. Many have the potential to alter an ecosystem through unintended consequences for non-target insects.

Intercropping

A practice of growing more than one crop together or in close proximity in a variety of spatial arrangements to promote growth and nutrient sharing.

Landrace

A local variety of a domesticated animal or cultivated plant species which has developed largely by natural processes, by adaptation to the natural environment in which it lives. Often named for the geographic region it is confined to. This term is typically used by plant breeders to describe the precursor populations to cultivated varieties.

Latosol

A classification of soil found in tropical regions, typically deep, nutrient poor, well drained and often red or yellow in color from iron or aluminum oxides.

Leaching

The removal of soluble or other constituents (typically from soil) from or by a percolating liquid, such as heavy rainfall or irrigation. Organic matter can be removed from a soil by leaching.

Leaf Area Index

A dimensionless index, formed by dividing the total upper leaf surface of vegetation by the surface area of the land on which the vegetation grows. This index is often used to estimate or model productivity, photosynthesis or water usage or an ecosystem.

Lime/Liming

The application of calcium-rich and/or magnesium-rich materials to soil to neutralize soil acidity. Balancing the pH of soil is considered beneficial for a variety of reasons, including plant and microbial health and the improvement of nutrient availability. The dose of lime depends on the acidity of the soil.

Loam Soil

A solid texture composed of roughly equal parts of clay, silt and sand. For many plants this is an ideal soil texture as it holds moisture but also drains well.

Loess

A predominantly silt-sized sediment (larger than clay but smaller than sand particles), which is often formed by the accumulation or deposit of wind-blown dust. Typically homogeneous in texture and light in color due to its mineral content.

Mineral Fertilizers

Inorganic fertilizers (not of biological origin) produced either naturally or manufactured chemically containing nutrients required for the normal growth and development of plants.

Monocropping

The practice of growing one agricultural crop year after year on the same land, without crop rotation. The term most commonly refers to annual crops, which must be replanted each year. It is often made possible only by vigorous fertilization and pesticide regimes. This system can be controversial as it can alter soil ecology (including depletion or reduction in diversity of soil nutrients) and increase crop vulnerability to opportunistic insects, plants or microorganisms.

Mycorrhiza

A fungus with a symbiotic, often mutualistic association with the roots of a plant, resulting in the transfer of nutrients between the two organisms.

Organic Fertilizers

An animal or plant product or byproduct used as fertilizer, such as manure, alfalfa meal, peat, guano, seaweed or compost. In practice, these usually include mineral-based products as well, such as rock phosphate.

Organic Matter

Soil material composed of organic compounds originating from once-living organisms and their waste products in the environment. Decayed matter in soil.

Oxisols

Soils found in warm, rainy climates under broadleaf, evergreen vegetation, such as the tropical rainforest. Known to be extremely weathered and nutrient-poor soil, therefore not well-suited for agriculture. Cleared of vegetation, the exposed surface is easily eroded. Often red or yellowish due to the high concentration of iron and aluminum oxides.

Parent Rock

The original source bedrock from which other rocks or local soils were formed.

pH

The degree of acidity or alkalinity of a solution, as defined by a logarithmic scale between 0 and 14. Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic (or alkaline). Pure water has a pH close to 7. Specifically, pH is a logarithm of the reciprocal of the hydrogen-ion concentration in gram equivalents per liter of solution. Because the pH scale is logarithmic, each whole pH value below 7 is ten times more acidic than the next higher value.

Population

A group of organisms of the same species living within a restricted geographical area so that any member can potentially mate with any other member.

Primary Forest

A forest that has never been logged and has developed following natural disturbances and under natural processes, regardless of its age. A traditional human activity such as small-scale agriculture or harvesting generally does not disqualify a forest from being considered primary.

Propagule

Plant material used for the purpose of plant propagation or dispersal, including various vegetative or reproductive portions of a plant, such as a bud or other offshoot, seed or spore.

Pruning

The practice of clipping or stumping a coffee plant to reinvigorate growth and promote future yield of the tree. Benefits include maintaining a size suitable for pickers, stimulating the growth of new branches (which bear more fruit), and managing nutrient requirements. various methods are used for pruning, from light to severe, depending on frequency and local husbandry practices.

Pure Line

A selected line of plants that is bred and evaluated over time until a uniform breeding population is established, with many generations of plants presenting the same basic phenotype. These lines are relatively similar genetically and can be planted from seed with assurance that they will grow to have a specific set of traits.

Relative Humidity

A ratio, expressed in percent, of the amount of atmospheric moisture present relative to the amount that would be present if the air were saturated. A function of both moisture content and temperature. A relative humidity of 100 percent indicates that the air is totally saturated with water vapor and cannot hold any more, creating the possibility of rain.

Rhizosphere

The zone surrounding the roots of a plant in which complex relationships exist among the plant, the soil microorganisms, and the soil, stemming from the influence of the plant roots.

Runoff

A process that occurs when there is more water than soil can absorb, due to natural or human causes. The excess water flows across the surface of the land and into nearby streams or other bodies of water, entering the local watershed.

Salinization

The process leading to excessive water-soluble salt in the soil, due to natural or human causes. Accumulated salts may include sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium chloride, sulphate and carbonate and/or bicarbonate.

Saprotroph

An organism that derives its energy from non-living organic matter, such as decaying wood and leaves, or dung. Commonly a fungus or bacterium.

Selection

An act of choosing an individual. In plant breeding, the term selection is used to define plants which have been chosen by humans to be bred together. Selection can happen inadvertently or with strong purpose based on an individual’s traits and phenotype.

Silt

A sedimentary material consisting of very fine soil particles, intermediate in size between sand and clay.

Slope

The degree of rise-over-run of a mountain or hillside (steepness), which is important in determining agricultural practices due to the potential for runoff, erosion and higher associated labor costs.

Soil Aggregate

A conglomerate unit of soil particles that are held together by moist clay, silica, organic matter and organic compounds originating from microorganisms.

Soil Profile

A vertical cross-section of a soil, made up of multiple layers called horizons.

Spodosol

Soil consisting of ashy gray, acidic sediment with a strongly leached surface layer composed of a mixture of organic matter and aluminum, with or without iron. Spodosols often occur under coniferous forests or in cool, moist climates and generally require the addition of lime in order to be agriculturally productive.

Stumping

Pruning the plant drastically by cutting it down to only a stump.

Subsoil

The layer of soil underneath the topsoil, but above the bedrock. This soil layer often has less organic matter and hummus that topsoil. Compare to topsoil, hummus.

Surface Runoff

Water runoff over the land surface, which will ultimately end in streams that flow into the larger watershed. This often occurs where the soil is already at field capacity.

Symbiosis

A close interaction between two or more different species, often considered a mutualistic relationship where each species gains some advantage.

Taproot

A central, enlarged plant root that grows vertically downward. Generally grows deeper into the soil than lateral roots. Compare to lateral roots.

Topsoil

The uppermost layer of soil, usually rich in organic material, dark in color and biologically active.

Understory

The vegetative layer of plants, growing especially between the forest canopy and the ground cover.

Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD)

The difference between the amount of moisture in the air and how much moisture the air can hold before it condenses. Once air becomes saturated, water will condense out to form clouds, dew or films of water over leaves. Some also use this term to describe the difference between the vapor pressure at the saturation temperature of the canopy or the leaves and that in the atmosphere, either above or inside the plant canopy.

Watershed

An area of land that forms a bounded hydrologic system, where all free water in that system drains to the same place, such as a river, which will then exit the region to join a larger body of water, such as an ocean.