Abstract
Coffee growing soil of southwestern region parts of Ethiopia are classified as Nitisols with having a low pH and highly deficient in phosphorus. A nursery experiment was conducted at Jimma Agricultural Research Center, southwestern Ethiopia to evaluate the effects of lime and phosphorus rates on coffee seedling growth under nursery conditions. The experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design with 3 replications. The treatments were arranged in factorial combinations of five levels of lime (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 g) and four levels of phosphorus (0, 400, 600 and 800 mg) 2.5 kg -1 top soil. The statical data was analyzed through SAS software and treatment means were compared at 5% probability using Duncan Multiple Range Test. The results revealed that th e interactions of lime and P rates significantly increased the growth of both non-destructive parameters (plant height, girth, number of nods, interned length, leaf number and leaf area) and Root growth parameters (taproot length, lateral root length, lateral root number, root volume, leaf stem and root fresh weight, of coffee seedlings. The maximum shoot and root extensions were obtained from the interaction of 10 g lime and 800 mg P rates 2.5 kg -1 top soil. On the other hand, applications of P significantly ( P≤ 0.01) affected soil and plant growth parameters. As P rate increased availability P boosted and plant growth were enhanced. Similarly, an application of lime significantly affected ( P≤ 0.01) plant growth and enhance nutrient availability up to 10 g, though further applications adversely affect seedling growth and nutrient availability. Hence , combined application of 10 g lime and 800 mg P rate 2.5 kg -1 top enhances the optimum growth of coffee seedlings under nursery conditions. Keywords: Coffee nursery, Coffee seedlings, Exchangeable acidity, Lime rates DOI : 10.7176/JBAH/9-15-04 Publication date : August 31 st 2019
Highlights
In Ethiopia currently about 40% of the total arable land was affected by soil acidity, out of this about 27.7 % is moderately acidic and 13.2% is strongly acidic (Adane, 2015)
According to CSA (2017), the estimated area of land covered by coffee in Ethiopia is about 700,474.69 hectares, whereas the estimated annual national production of clean coffee is about 469,091.12 tons and mainly produced in the southwestern and southeastern parts of the country
The aim of this work was to evaluate the responses of lime and phosphorus for alleviating soil acidity and optimum hybrid coffee seedlings growth under nursery condition
Summary
In Ethiopia currently about 40% of the total arable land was affected by soil acidity, out of this about 27.7 % is moderately acidic and 13.2% is strongly acidic (Adane, 2015). Ethiopia is one of the largest coffee producer in Africa and is the sixth largest coffee producer in the world next to Brazil, Vietnam, Colombia, Indonesia and Hondura, contributing about 4.1 percent of total world coffee production (ICO, 2018). It has tremendous impact on economic, social and spiritual life of people of the country and, quarter of the population of the nation to depend directly or indirectly on coffee for its income generation (Girma et al, 2008). Ethiopia has 40 improved (34 varieties and 6 hybrids) and released coffee berry disease (CBD) resistant varieties (Tadesse, 2017)
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