Understanding Soil Health and Associated Farmers' Perceptions in Colombian Coffee Systems.

Soil health is important to the economics and environmental impacts of crop production, including coffee culture. This study was conducted to gain insights into farmers’ perceptions related to soil health concepts and their realities on Colombian coffee farms.  A total of 223 soil samples were collected from 145 coffee farms in Cauca, Colombia that vary by municipality, their membership status with a coffee co-operative (member; non-member), and the gender of farmer. Samples were analyzed for 10 soil health indicators including wet aggregate stability, available water capacity, active carbon, organic matter, protein, respiration, pH, phosphorus, potassium and minor elements. Farmer gender (females>males) municipality, and co-op membership (members> non-members) were significant factors for soil health status on farms.  In the second part of the study, farmer members of the co-op were asked to identify from their farms plots they perceived highest and lowest in soil fertility, which allowed for the evaluation of (i) the correctness of farmers’ soil fertility ranking, and (ii) which soil health indicators most influence farmers’ perception of a soil health. Results revealed that these coffee farmers had accurate perceptions of their soil health, and that organic matter content, respiration, and protein content were most correlated with farmers’ perception of soil health. Farmers’ soil health perception correctness was not significantly correlated with gender or municipality, but the perception correctness was greater with producers owning farms with higher soil health conditions.