Widespread nutritional imbalances of coffee plantations

Abstract

Leaf analysis is an important tool to assess the nutritional status of coffee crops and allow evaluate and calibrate fertilizers recommendations. For the interpretation of the chemical results obtained by leaf analysis, several methods can be used, stands as the Sufficiency Range and the Integrated System of Diagnosis and Recommendation (DRIS). The objective of this work was to evaluate the nutritional status of coffee crops in production from Manhuaçu region, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. A database was generated with nutrient concentrations from index leaves of commercial fields located in the region of Manhuaçu. Some parameters of descriptive statistics were used to describe the leaves concentrations (mean, maximum value, minimum value, and coefficient of variation). The nutritional status of the plants was evaluated by the Sufficiency range and DRIS methods. Nutritional imbalances may be one of the factors responsible for low yields over years. The program of fertilizations must be reviewed in the Manhuaçu region, once N and K are in excess and P and S deficient in coffee fields.