Fertilization management for coffee establishment

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted for the period 1975 to 1981 for assessing fertilizer requirements for coffee establishment. Experimental treatments consisted of: (1) basic fertilization in the planting holes with two sources of N (organic manure and urea at the rate of 60 g of N/hole) in combination with three K rates (0, 30 and 60 g of K₂O/hole) and three P rates (0, 40 and 80 g of P₂O₅/hole) and (2) three sidedress NPK rates applied annually during the first five years after planting data. After four harvestings no significant yield difference between N sources (organic and mineral) was observed. Yields decreased when P was not added in the hole fertilization before planting, regardless the annual sidedress fertilization treatment. K applied in the hole before planting had no influence on yield but it increased yield when broadcast annually after planting. Yield increased with each increase in applied sidedress NPK fertilizers. Maximum yield was obtained on plots which contained at least 1 meq of Ca/100 g, 0.20 meq of Mg/100 g, 0.30 meq of K/100 g and 10 mg of P/kg. Increases in leaf N from 3% to 3.9%, leaf K from 1.8% to 2.8% and leaf P from 0.10% to 0.18% by soil application of NPK fertilizers increased yields.