The recommended average rates of nutrients for coffee trees, and how Multi-K can improve the yield and the coffee quality
Variety: Arabica*.
Soil type Deep, well-drained, loamy or volcanic.
Plant population: 1200-1800 mat/Ha. (3000-4000 trees/ha).
Expected yield: 45-50 t/Ha. (1.8- 2 t/Ha clear coffee).
*Robusta coffee generally requires less nutrients than Arabica.
Recommended average rates of nutrients for coffee trees
Tree age (years) |
Nutrients demand (Kg/Ha/ year) |
Recommended fertilizers (Kg/Ha/ year) |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
N |
P2O5 |
K2O |
Ammonium nitrate |
|||
|
1 |
30-40 |
0 |
30-40 |
60-65 |
0 |
65-90 |
|
2 |
60-80 |
0 |
60-80 |
130-170 |
0 |
130-175 |
|
3 |
120-160 |
20-30 |
150-200 |
220-280 |
30-50 |
330-450 |
|
Maturity |
200-300 |
30-50 |
250-400 |
360-520 |
50-80 |
550-870 |
Phosphate should be applied from the 3rd year on, according to soil or leaf analysis.
The total rate should be split along the year as follows:
|
Tree Age (years) |
Number of applications |
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
N |
P2O5 |
K2O |
|
|
1 |
4 |
0 |
2 |
|
2 |
3 |
0 |
3 |
|
3 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
|
Maturity |
3-4 |
3-4 |
3-4 |
The potassium should be applied with the 2nd and 3rd applications of nitrogen. It is particularly necessary during the period of fruit expansion and ripening.
Foliar spraying with Multi-K as a supplement to soil fertilization is the most effective way to improve potassium and nitrogen uptake by the coffee plant. This method prevents adsorption or leaching of potassium and nitrogen to the soil, and provides the plant with an accurate supply of nutrient during its critical growth periods.
Proper application of foliar spraying with Multi-K improves yield and coffee quality (grain size).
It is recommended that the first application should take place 12 weeks after flowering at 4% Multi-K. Two more similar applications should be made at 30 days intervals.
Fertilization of coffee seedlings
Pot size: 3 cm diameter and 15 cm length.
Growth medium: 150 ml/pot of (soil - 70% + manure - 30%).
Fertilizers in the growth medium:
5 Kg Super-phosphate /m3 growing mixture
1 Kg Rock-phosphate + micronutrients / m3
1 Kg KCl / m3 growing mixture
After emergence ( at a developmental stage of 2 leaves) Foliar spraying with 0.3% mixture of: 0.5 B + 2.2 Mg +7 Zn + 10 N.
Coffee nutrition requirements in Kenya
At production level of 1,850 kg/ha of berries, in typical Kenyan conditions.
Source: Mr. Peder Mortensen of Standard Chartered, March, 1999.
|
N |
P2O5 |
K2O |
Cao |
MgO |
S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
---------------------------------------------------Kg / ha----------------------------------------- |
|||||
|
160 |
50 |
70 |
80 |
40 |
20 |
|
Zn |
B |
Mn |
Cu |
Fe |
Mo |
Cl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
---------------------------------------------------Kg / ha----------------------------------------- |
||||||
|
1 |
0.5 |
Nil |
Nil |
Nil |
0.035 |
N/K |
Ideal nutrients ratios
At production level of 1,850 kg/ha of berries, in typical Kenyan conditions.
Source: Mr. Peder Mortensen of Standard Chartered, March, 1999.
|
N |
P2O5 |
K2O |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
7 |
1 |
9 |
|
| i.e. |
160 |
23 |
206 |
| Adjusted |
160 |
50 |
70 |
CaO + MgO / K2O = 5 – 10. i.e. 4% + 2% / 1% = 6
Ca / Mg = 2
Ca / B = 200
N / S = 12
|
N |
P |
K |
Ca |
Mg |
S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
-------------------------------------- Kg/ton ------------------------------------------ |
|||||
|
35.0 |
3.0 |
41.0 |
|||
Source: Kinoch: VOLHOUBARE LANDBOU, RSA. Processed by Frans Lourens, Haifa, RSA May, 1999.
