Table 4. Description of suitability of agroclimatic zones proposed for the Colombian coffee-growing regions.

Agroclimatic zone	Limitations	Advantages	Recommendations
1 and 4	-Slow vegetative and reproductive growth in high areas.	-Zones are suitable for the crop.	-Management with mulch.
		-Flowering tends to be concentrated in two periods.	-High planting densities and arranged in wide alleys.
		-Longer renovation cycles.	-Planting at the beginning of the rainy season.
2 and 3	-Zones are affected by the La Niña phenomenon.	-Zones can become suitable for cultivation under conditions of the El Niño phenomenon.	-Management with mulch and semishade.
	-Excess humidity does not permit concentration of flowering.		-Medium planting densities and arranged in wide alleys.
	-Risk of diseases such as rots caused by Phoma spp., especially at higher altitudes.		-Planting at the beginning of the rainy season.
	-Slow vegetative and reproductive growth.
5 and 6	-In both zones, shaded conditions may limit production.	-Concentrated flowering and harvesting times.	-Planting at the beginning of the rainy season.
	-Risk of hydric deficit in the middle phase of fruit development in zone 6.	-Longer renovation cycles.	-Regulating shading so that it is no more than 50%.
	-Slow vegetative and reproductive growth at higher altitudes, principally in zone 5.		-Conservation practices with mulching in the dry season.
7, 8, and 9	-Risk of hydric deficit in the late phases of fruit development.	-Flowering frequently concentrates into one semester.	-Management with mulch or transitory shading that favor humidity in stage 3.
	-These zones can lose their suitability for coffee cultivation under conditions of the El Niño phenomenon.	-Sufficient thermal availability.	-Planting at the beginning of the two rainy seasons.
	-Shorter renovation cycles.	-Optimal distribution in coffee border lands.
10	-Cropping in agroforestal systems because of the temporariness of rainy seasons.	-Flowering frequently concentrates into one semester.	-Management with mulch to favor humidity in stages 2 and 3.
	-This zone can lose its suitability for cultivation during conditions of the El Niño phenomenon.		-Regulating shading so that it is no more than 60%
	-Shade can diminish thermal availability.		-Medium to high planting densities and arranged in wide alleys.
	-Shady conditions can limit production.		-Planting at the beginning of the rainy season.
11 and 12	-Slow vegetative and reproductive growth.	-Flowering frequently concentrates into one semester.	-Medium to high planting densities and arranged in wide alleys.
	-Risk of hydric deficit in the late phases of fruit development.	-Longer renovation cycles.	-Regulating shading so that it is no more than 45%.
	-Zones may lose suitability for cropping under conditions of the El Niño phenomenon.		-Management with mulch to favor humidity in stage 3.
	-Thermal availability diminishes under cloudy conditions.
	-Risk of diseases such as rots caused by Phoma spp.