Abstract
Water restriction significantly affects coffee (<em>Coffea arabica</em> L.) production. The study of a few agronomic techniques that optimizes water use can generate technologies for mitigating the effects of climatic variations on coffee crops. The aim of this study was to indicate agronomic techniques that mitigate the effects of water restriction on coffee crops. For this end, we analyzed the morphophysiological changes in coffee plants cultivated in a greenhouse with different types of fertilizers and soil conditioners and under two levels of irrigation. The evaluations were conducted 130 days after planting, assessing the morphological and physiological characteristics of the plants. We also quantified soil moisture in the different treatments. The water restriction expressively hindered plant growth. The use of controlled release fertilizers and soil conditioners, especially coffee husk, is indicated for mitigating water restriction in coffee crops.
Highlights
Water availability is one of the most limiting of the essential plants growth factors and contributes significantly to an increased agricultural production worldwide
Higher plants growth was recorded for most of types of soil conditioners when compared to levels of irrigation at 80% of field capacity and adequate water availability for the crop (TABLE 1)
The same trend was found with regard to plants grown in soil conditioners containing coffee husk and organic compost, both used at 40% irrigation level, for the following variables: plants height, stem diameter, number of leaves, number of plagiotropic branches, dry weight of the aerial part and dry weight of the root system, as well as for stem diameter and dry weight of the root system when used waterretaining conditioner associated with 40% irrigation
Summary
Water availability is one of the most limiting of the essential plants growth factors and contributes significantly to an increased agricultural production worldwide. The increased efficiency fertilizers are emphasized as a great alternative for plant nutrition under adverse cropping conditions These fertilizers show greater efficiency in providing nutrients to plants and allow the reduction of nutrients losses through leaching and volatilization, making fertilization safer (TIMILSENA et al, 2015). Few soil conditioners such as agricultural gypsum and organic residues enhance soil properties and root environment, allowing better access to available water for plants (SANTOS et al, 2014). There is no information regarding the effects of the simultaneous use of technologies such as controlled release fertilizers and soil conditioners with higher water use efficiency in coffee crops It highlights here the relevance of developing a sustainable coffee production process. This study was developed aiming to describe agronomic methods that better mitigate the effects of water restriction on coffee crops
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