Fertilizing coffee trees

Coffee trees grown in the full sun are a very hungry tree and have a high yearly nutrient requirement. A yearly soil test is advisable so that a detailed fertilizer program can be planned for the following 12 months.

Ideally the fertilizers to be used will be a mixture of Solid Type [applied above the ground] and Fertigation [injected into the irrigation system] Using these 2 types of fertilizers makes looking after the trees much easier and gives the farmer many more options of what inputs he can give the trees and when. The solid fertilizer is normally a mixture of N,P,K to suit the local soil type and tree requirements, and is applied with a tractor type spreader 2 – 4 times a year. This type requires rain to activate and transfer it so thought should be given as to the time of year rain is normally anticipated. Another consideration for solid fertilizer is that leading up to harvest time the growing cherries cause the branches to lean into the centre of the row, so as the tractor spreads the fertilizer quite a lot of cherries and branches are knocked off the trees.

These types of fertilizers can be very strong and care should be taken not to overuse them as unused nutrients can be leached into waterways. Also chemicals within the fertilizers can build up in the soil over years and start to damage the micro-macro organisms living in the soil which in turn damages the soil, this then adversely affects the trees growing in the soil.

Fertilizers applied through the irrigation system are not as strong, can be immediately taken up by the tree and can be applied any time of the year. These fertilizers can then "fine tune" the coffee tree’s needs, for example Boron and Calcium need to be at certain levels before the tree flowers so that a strong healthy bean is formed. Boron is very slow to move through the soil so timing of ground application is quite difficult especially when rain is a part of the equation, however boron and calcium products can be injected into the irrigation system and watered onto the trees root zone for immediate uptake. This can be done at safe levels once a week in the lead up to flowering. Also when no rain has fallen and is not expected for some time the farmer can continue to fertilize and water the trees at the same time, knowing every gram of product he mixes and injects will go to the coffee trees.

Soil and water PH should be monitored and adjusted to about 6.5 so the trees can easily access and take up the fertilizers.

Another excellent input is a compost mixture made up from all the pulped cherry skins, composted chicken manure and straw, this is turned regularly for a couple of months then broadcast over the farm.

Coffee can be very hard to fertilize correctly in the full sun as the trees tend to overbear 1 year then have a poor year [or even suffer dieback] as a result from overbearing, on the other hand if the trees are over fertilized they can grow too quickly and need to be prematurely pruned to fit inside the coffee harvester resulting in a year with no income.

In summing up watch the trees and soil [life] closely and remember that what you see is the result of the nutrient levels 3-4 months previously, also seek PROFESSIONAL advice regarding fertilizer rates and application timings.

I found the following article on the net and while I do not agree 100% I do agree with the need to increase our use of organic matter and not overuse chemical fertilizers.

In an era where chemical or synthetic fertilizers are given prominence, the side effects are many. They leave behind a trail of destruction. These chemicals not only pollute groundwater but also are a cause for many present day diseases. Mankind is slowly loosing his resistance or immunity due to intake of synthetic fertilizer food. Chemicals are quick to act but they leave behind a trail of poisons in the soil. The very future of farming is affected. Hence the need to build up soil organic matter which not only reduces the dependency on chemical fertilizers, but also enriches the fertility status of the soil without any side effects. Soil organic matter improves root growth, uptake of minerals and aids the plant in a host of physiological activities. It increases mobilization of nutrients both major and minor from the soil. It also produces growth promoting substances and higher nitrogen fixation by bacteria. It is also essential in the formation of soil aggregates and soil structure, which has a direct bearing on soil aeration. Antibiotics are also produced keeping in check soil borne pathogens. Acids released, dissolve insoluble phosphates and make it available.

Exploitation of coffee soils is the order of the day. In reality excessive use of fertilizers renders the soil SICK. The best way to go about this is converting organic residues into energy rich nutrients. This goes a big way in protecting the future and stabilizing the land. As days goes by there are no soft options left. In the race for preserving planet earth the farming community throughout the world has to work together for common good of mankind. After all, human beings have only one world to live in and that is MOTHER EARTH.

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