Restoring soil health from long-term intensive Robusta coffee cultivation in Vietnam: “A review”

Robusta cofee, a vital cash crop for Vietnamese smallholders, signifcantly contributes to the national economy. Vietnam is the largest exporter of Robusta cofee, supplying 53% of the global market. However, this success has come at a cost. Decades of intensive Robusta cofee cultivation in Vietnam have led to severe soil acidifcation and biodiversity loss, favoring soil-borne pathogens. There is a lack of literature analyzing how intensive management causes soil acidifcation, advances the spread of soilborne pathogens, and the application of soil amendments to address these issues. Therefore, this review explores the causes of acidifcation, pathogen proliferation, and sustainable amendments like lime and biochar to mitigate these efects. The study synthesizes fndings from studies on soil acidifcation, soil-borne pathogen dynamics, and sustainable soil amendments in Robusta cofee systems. We found that the overuse of nitrogen-based chemical fertilizers to grow cofee is the primary driver of soil acidifcation, consequently increasing soilborne diseases and the severity of plant diseases. Additionally, the efects of soil amendments as a sustainable solution to reduce soil acidity, enhance soil health, and better control soilborne pathogens. The implementation of sustainable cofee farming systems is strongly recommended to meet the increased demand for safe and green products worldwide. Locally available resources (lime, biochar, and agricultural wastes) present immediate solutions, but urgent action is required to prevent irreversible damage. However, the efects of amendments signifcantly vary in feld conditions, suggesting that further studies should be conducted to address these challenges and promote sustainability.

Van, L.N.; Quang, D.N.; Laetitia, H.; Enez, A.; Brau, L.; Van, C.N.; Katz, M.; Lesueur, D.