Spacial distribution of fertigated coffee root system

Marcelo Rossi Vicente,André Luís Teixeira Fernandes,Júlio César Lima Neves,Fábio Teixeira Delazari,Everardo Chartuni Mantovani,Edmilson Marques Figueredo

doi:10.1590/1413-70542016411021316

Abstract

ABSTRACT The development of coffee plant root system changes when subjected to drip irrigation and fertigation. This work aimed to evaluate the effects of different levels of fertigation on the development of coffee root system by drip irrigation in western Bahia. The experiment was carried out with Catuaí Vermelho IAC 144 coffee plants, of about 3.5 years of age, in the “Café do Rio Branco” farm, located in Barreiras - BA, and consisted of a complete randomized blocks design with 3 replicates. Treatments consisted of three levels of nitrogen and potassium fertilization (900/800, 600/500 and 300/250 kg ha-1 year-1 N and K2O), weekly distributed, by means of fertigation, throughout the process. After the fourth harvest, coffee root system was evaluated, and root length density (RLD) and root density (RD) were determined at different sampled layers. The highest root concentration, root length density (RLD), and root density (RD) were observed in the superficial layers of soil (0-20 cm), and under the dripline (30 and 70 cm from the orthotropic branch). Results showed that the lower the N and K2O levels, the higher was the development (RLD and RD) of the coffee root system.

Highlights

Irrigation allowed the expansion of coffee cultivated areas into regions considered marginal to its cultivation
Coffee plants subjected to 300/250 and 600/500 (N/K2O) levels produced more roots in the 0-10 cm depth layer than those subjected to 900/800 (N/K2O)
These results are consistent with those presented by Rena et al (2002), who observed in 6 yearsold coffee plants, in Ponte Nova - MG, the highest root volume on the side where it is usually fertilized

Summary

Introduction

Irrigation allowed the expansion of coffee cultivated areas into regions considered marginal to its cultivation. These regions are limited by high temperatures and scarce rainfall (Dominghetti et al, 2014; Silveira et al, 2015). This technology ensures adequate water supply at critical periods of water requirements, besides maximizing efficiency in the application of fertilizers by means of fertigation (Dominghetti et al, 2014). The benefits of this technique are limited due to the lack of specific information in relation to coffee plants, regarding the level and the number of applications per year (Sobreira et al, 2011) Compared with the conventional fertilization system, fertigation increases yield, improves the quality of coffee plants fruits, reduces costs with labor, and increases efficiency of soil management (Carvalho et al, 2010; Pereira et al, 2010; Sobreira et al, 2011).

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Results