Protecting Young coffee trees against frost damage

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted in 1977, 1978, and 1979 at Londrina, southern Brazil, with Coffea arabica L., var. Catuaí Amarelo, to determine the effectiveness of "banking" practice or throwing up the soil around a young tree trunk to prevent bark injury (frost wound) by heavier cold air. The exposed time of soil banks with tree trunks also was evaluated. Soil banks were effective in keeping sound the young coffee tree trunks with any visible bark injuries after the frost. However, the treatments in which the tree trunks were not covered with a layer of soil, at least one plant per plot showed a typical splitting symptom on the bark after the frost. Plant height, number of plagiotropic shoots (productive shoots), and the diameters of trunk and skirt of the tree (basal diameter of the tree) were not influenced by the time that the tree trunks were covered with a soil layer. Data on the value, feasibility, timing, and method of operation of the soil banks as a routine cultural practice for preventing frost damage in young coffee tree trunks in southern Brazil are presented.