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"Nutritional Needs of Coffee Trees Are High" |
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by Virginia Easton Smith |
| It is said about children that “the first five years last forever”, the same is true for a coffee tree. During this period the trees must be fertilized, protected from weeds and pests, and pruned for efficient growth and future production. The crop growth stage determines the type and amount of fertilizer necessary, and the application intervals. The main purpose of fertilizing young trees is to supply the nutrients necessary for development of the root system and growth of leaves. Young trees in particular need a fertilizer with a high phosphorus content to promote root growth. Bearing trees have different nutrient requirements. A harvested crop of 10,000 pounds of coffee cherry contains about 63 pounds of nitrogen (N), 13 pounds of phosphorus (P, but calculated as P2O5), and 68 pounds of potassium (K, but calculated as K2O). The trees producing that much cherry contain 250 pounds of N, 60 pounds of P, and 200 pounds of K in their leaves, stems, and roots. The following fertilizer schedule was developed for farmers who broadcast fertilizer, but the amounts can be adjusted for banded applications or fertilization through the irrigation system. Fertilizer high in P is placed in the bottom of the planting hole at transplanting. The next application is made approximately two months later, and is repeated about every three months during the first year. Traditionally, a 10-30-10 (percent N:P:K) formulation is used, but this should be adjusted based on soil analysis. A handful (2 oz, _ cup) per tree of this fertilizer should be evenly spread over an area beginning a few inches from the trunk and extending to the tip of the lateral branches (leaf drip line). During the second year the vertical branches will grow taller and the roots and side branches will extend laterally. The amount of fertilizer should be increased to approximately two handfuls (4 oz, _ cup) per tree at three-month intervals. The trees will be 4-6 ft tall in the third year. At this stage, the coffee plant needs less phosphorus and more potassium, which is needed for flowering and seed formation. Various fertilizer formulations have been tailored to the needs of the coffee industry, such. as "Coffee Cherry" (10-5-20), "Coffee Super" (14-7-28) and “plus” formulations containing N-P-K with zinc (Zn), magnesium (Mg), and iron (Fe). If a 10-5-20 or similar formulation is used, a total of 1,000 pounds per acre is applied in the third year. The first application is made at the beginning of the growing season following the semi-dormant period. The second application is given immediately after the flowering period, and the third is given when the crop is making its most rapid development and vegetative growth is at its maximum. The fourth application is made just before harvest. In the fourth year, as the trees grow larger, the fertilizer is increased to approximately 1,500 pounds per acre (based on 10-5-20) for the year, again, split into four or more applications. As the amount of fertilizer increases, take care to broadcast it evenly over the entire area under the branches, no closer to the trunk than 6 inches away. If the orchard is located in a sunny area, such as below the highway, additional N fertilizer is recommended. Up to 500 pounds per year of ammonium sulfate should be applied, split into two applications. These applications are made between the first and second, and the third and fourth applications of 10-5-20. Where there is more rainfall and cloud cover, additional N fertilization is not needed. The practice of some coffee growers whose orchards are located in areas that fall between the cloudy section and the sunny section is to apply an additional 200-300 pounds of ammonium sulfate. Fertilizer is increased to 2,000 pounds per acre for the year as production increases in the fifth year. However, if the orchard is established on exceptionally rich soil 1,500 pounds or even less may be sufficient. By this time, the trees should be producing a commercial yield, and a target of 10,000 pounds of cherry per acre is feasible. These fertilizer amounts may be more than many growers are applying, but can be profitably used, as yields will most likely increase. The information for this article was taken from "Growing Coffee in Hawaii", by Bittenbender and Smith. It can be ordered from the CTAHR website at http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu under "for sale publications". For a more in-depth look at coffee nutrition and other topics, attend “How to Grow, Process and Roast Kona Coffee”. The workshop, sponsored by the Kona Coffee Council (KCC) and the UH CTAHR Cooperative Extension Service, is June 8 from 8:00 a.m. to noon at the Cooperative Extension Service in Kainaliu. It is free to KCC members and $20 for non-members, (which includes membership dues). This information is provided by the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources. For more information contact the Cooperative Extension office nearest you, in East Hawaii call 959-9155 and in West Hawaii call 322-4892. |
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Posted 8/5/02
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