Initial growth of Rubi coffee plant in response to nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium and water regimes

Abstract

The objective of this work was to evaluate shoot growth of coffee trees (Coffea arabica L.) cultivar Rubi MG 1192 under three N, P and K doses and two water regimes during the first year after transplanting, starting on the 20th November 2000. The growth was evaluated at 134, 196, 236, 284, 334 and 383 days after transplanting (DAT). Nitrogen and K affected the number of plagiotropic branches per plant. Nevertheless, only N affected the number of nodes with axillary buds. There was no growth response to N, P, and K in terms of the total shoot dry mass and leaf area index during the experimental period. Irrigated treatments presented the best plant growth results, provided more vigorous plants and anticipated the fast growth phase to July (236 DAT), but could not avoid growth rate decrease during the winter. The fast plant growth phase of non-irrigated plants occurred by the middle of October (334 DAT); in these treatments, the development of buds into fruits or secondary branches altered the dry matter distribution and reduced stem, branches and leaves growth.