Effects of nutririgation on conilon coffee crops in the North region

Brazil is the largest producer and exporter of coffee in the world, with this production being divided between two species of greater economic value, Arabica Coffee and Conilon/Robusta Coffee. According to the ICO (International Coffee Organization) in world production of Conilon Coffee, Brazil occupies the second position, behind only Vietnam, which produces approximately 30 million bags in an area of ​​just over 600 thousand hectares. Brazil, on the other hand, produces approximately 18 million bags in an area of ​​just over 400 thousand hectares, and much of the production is concentrated in 3 states: Espírito Santo, Rondônia and Bahia. Espírito Santo is the largest producer in Brazil, however the great attention at the moment is focused on production in the northern region of the country, more specifically in the state of Rondônia, which in addition to presenting extremely favorable soil and climate conditions, also presents genetics with great productive potential. . All these factors combined with the practice of nutrirrigation have generated results never seen before.

Fertigation is the practice of applying fertilizers via an irrigation system, generally having a weekly or fortnightly application schedule. Nutrirrigation, much more than just a simple concept, is capable of providing a daily schedule of nutrient solution applications, an operational practice impossible to replicate by conventional fertigation. The nutrirrigation technique consists of supplying nutrients in a qualitative manner and with customizable frequencies.

Fazenda Sonho Real is an example of positive results when working with appropriate techniques and management. Located in the municipality of Nova Brasilândia do Oeste, state of Rondônia and with considerable productivity over more than four years, the property is an example, as in addition to having very significant genetic materials, they work with the nutrirrigation technique in a very intensive way .

With monthly nutritional schedules that consider the demand of each phenological phase and productivity, the farm performs injections of the nutrient solution practically every day of the month, obtaining a monthly average of approximately 20 applications. The practice of nutri-irrigation does not favor the increase in soil salinity, as the qualitative and split application allows the soil to always be maintained at levels suitable for the plant. 

Another very important point is the rain. The property is in a region with rainfall with averages exceeding 2000 mm/year, the farm has adopted the practice of not interrupting irrigation even during rainy days. The measure requires strategy, on rainy days nutri-irrigation is always scheduled to occur after the end of the rain, drip irrigation has extremely low water application rates generally somewhere between 0,9 mm/hour to 1,5 mm/hour , which if we consider soil water conditions, presents practically zero interference when talking about rainfall of 50 mm, 100 mm or more. 

Unlike other farms that wait a few days to return with fertilizer injections via the system, the Sonho Real property never interrupts, considering that under normal conditions, the plants are always in constant activity as long as they have available light. The daily supply of nutrient solution is much more advantageous than concentrating the applications in 2 or 3 days and still running the risk of a rain leaching all these concentrated nutrients.

The property currently has productivity averages above 130 sc/ha and the last harvest, between the years 2019-2020, presented an average result of 180 sc/ha. For Fazenda Sonho Real, nutri-irrigation is an essential practice for the success of the crop. They are simple and intelligent solutions that seek to make the lives of rural producers easier provided by Netafim.