Coffee nutrition as a function of plant density and NPK fertilization

Although increasing in productivity, high-density tree planting provides reduction of the production per plant, increases the efficiency of recovery of nutrients by plants, and can contributes to the reduction of the amount of fertilizers to be applied per plant. Due to evaluate the answer of coffee tree plants (Coffea arabica L.) to N (100, 300, 500 e 700 kg.ha-1 of N); P (0, 60, 120 and 180 kg.ha-1 of P2O5) and K (100, 300, 500 and 700 kg.ha-1 of K2O) application, on work was carried out in a coffee cultivated at four densities (3,333; 5,000; 10,000 and 20,000 plants/ha). Database obtained at five harvests showed no significant differences of productivity as function of planting densities. Answers in productivity were obtained more strongly related to N and P doses. Answers to K application were less expressive. N and P foliar levels were little influenced by the doses of N and P2O5 applied by soil each year. K foliar levels were strongly influenced by the doses of K2O. Foliar levels of N and K were highest in coffee high-density tree when compared with those cultivated in wider spacing. The major variation on chemical soil characteristics was the highest levels of reduction on H+Al observed in coffee high-density tree coffee.

Arabic coffee; high density; fertilization; nitrogen; phosphorus; potassium; soil analysis