Biomass Production and Partitioning Response of Coffee (Arabica Coffea L.) Seedlings to Different Poly-Bag Size and Biochar Based Media Preparations

Abstract

Nursery experiment was conducted at Awada Agricultural Research Sub-Center, to investigate dry matter production and it’s partitioning into above and below ground parts of Arabica coffee seedlings treated under different ratio of biochar to top soil based media preparations and different poly bag size used to raise the seedlings. The treatment combinations with four levels of pot size (width by height) (7cm x13cm, 10cm x 16cm, 13cmx19cm and 16cmx 22cm) and five levels of biochar to top soil ratio (0:1, 1:1, 1:2, 1:3, 1:4) by (v/v) were used for the treatment were factorially combined and laid out in a randomized complete block design with three replications. Results showed that the main effect of poly bag size and biochar to top soil ratio of media preparation were significantly (P<0.01) affect leaf, shoot, root and total dry matter production and shoot to root ratio of coffee seedlings. The highest total dry weight (6.83g) was recorded from pot size of 16x22cm interacted with one to three (1:3) biochar to topsoil ratio followed by (6.57g) harvested from pot size of 13cmx19cm interacted with one to four (1:4) biochar to top soil ratio. Similarly, the root to shoot ratio of coffee seedlings was significantly (P = 0.017) affected by the combined effects of the two factors. Pot size 13cmx19cm interacted with one to four (1:4) biochar to top soil ratio exhibited the maximum (0.272g/g) RSR as compared to rest of growing media and all pot size interacted with one to four (1:4) biochar to top soil ratio have statically higher value similar to the largest value above mentioned parameters except shoot to root ratio. Thus, it is concluded that vigorous coffee seedlings with high dry matter content and optimum root to shoot distribution for better seedling production can be produced by optimum poly bag size of 13cmx19cm interacted with one to three (1:3) biochar to topsoil. But, further investigations should be continued under different media preparation for wider opportunities at different area coffee growing areas.