Abstract
With the aim of establishing critical ranges for the leaf nitrogen (N) and potassium (K) levels in fertigated coffee crops under production, an experiment was carried out in the experimental area of the Sector for Coffee Cultivation of the Department of Agriculture at the Federal University of Lavras, in Brazil. Treatments consisted of five levels of fertilizer applied through fertigation: 30%, 80%, 130%, 180% and 230% of the recommended amounts of N and K for rainfed coffee grown in Minas Gerais. A randomised block design with four replications was used. Critical ranges for nutrient concentrations in the leaves were established from the results of growth characteristics (plant height and stem diameter), leaf analyses and productivity. The results obtained were: a) nitrogen (g kg-1): 32.39 to 32.40 for January/February; 33.60 to 33.61 for March/April; 27.39 to 27.42 for May/June; 24.23 to 24.24 for July/August; 26.06 to 26.09 for September/October and 26.50 to 26.51 for November/December; b ) potassium (g kg-1): 20.08 to 20.14 for January/February; 17.89 to 17.91 for March/April; 15.93 to 15.96 for May/June; 15.29 to 15.35 for July/August; 16.61 to 16.64 for September/October and 20.58 to 20.64 for November/December.
Highlights
In Brazil there are about 251,000 hectares of irrigated coffee, where average production potential yields 10 million bags per year
With the increasing use of irrigation and fertigation on crops in Brazil, there has been ongoing concern by producers and technicians with the nutritional status of plants grown under this system
In Brazil the nutrient sufficiency range is one of the methods used to diagnosis the nutritional status of plants
Summary
In Brazil there are about 251,000 hectares of irrigated coffee, where average production potential yields 10 million bags per year. Of this area, 28.6%, corresponding to 71,700 hectares, is under drip irrigation. Irrigated crops have a productivity two to three times higher than the historical average of traditional, rainfed coffee-growing regions (SANTINATO; FERNANDES, 2012). Among the numerous factors that affect productivity in coffee, mineral nutrition and fertilization should be highlighted. With the increasing use of irrigation and fertigation on crops in Brazil, there has been ongoing concern by producers and technicians with the nutritional status of plants grown under this system. In Brazil the nutrient sufficiency range is one of the methods used to diagnosis the nutritional status of plants. For a more accurate evaluation, it becomes necessary to establish individual standards for each region and time of year (MARTINEZ et al, 2003)
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