Adequate nutritional management is essential for coffee production

According to data released by the National Supply Company (Conab), Brazilian coffee producers are expected to harvest more than 50 million bags in the 2022 harvest. The 3rd Bean Survey for the current season shows that the harvest reaches 99% of the designated area for the crop, and the estimated volume already represents an increase of 5,6% compared to the 2021 cycle. And carrying out good nutritional management throughout the plants' production cycle contributes to the harvest being even more productive.

This is because during the development of a coffee plant there are essential physiological processes that consume macronutrients, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulfur, which are demanded in greater quantities, and also micronutrients, such as manganese, zinc, boron, copper, iron and molybdenum required in smaller quantities, but also vital for plants.

The technical coordinator of Tradecorp do Brasil, Luciano Sbardellini explains that good management of coffee production begins with soil sampling in the months of September and October. “This is the moment when we have an indication of the real need to correct soil saturation and also the needs for sulfur and boron, thus adjusting the positioning of liming and plastering. From this, we will quantify the need to apply boron to the soil with supplementation via leaves”, he explains.

In comparative research carried out in the 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 harvests, nutrition treatments with products such as Vorax, Pumma and Phylgreen in coffee contributed to better vegetative development with an increase in the length and number of nodes formed in the plagiotropic branches. “We observed a difference of 7 bags/ha when comparing the two harvests. This return is proof that with good nutritional management, producers can increase crop productivity.”

Luciano explains that in the months of December and January, leaf analyzes are carried out to indicate the necessary adjustments in macro and micronutrient applications during the development phases of coffee fruits.

The expert highlights that the management of fertilizers and biofertilizers begins pre-flowering, which takes place in September. After flowering, in October, the same treatment with fertilizers and biofertilizers, combined with an algae extract, is reapplied. “Our objective, at this stage, is to improve the floral setting of coffee, enhancing the development of the leaves, thus increasing the photosynthetic capacity of the plants.”

Between November and December we apply foliar and mineral fertilizers. Between January and February, the leaves are analyzed. “There we make the last application of the combination of fertilizers and biofertilizers. It is an important phase in the formation of fruits, and magnesium and boron are essential in this phase as they are responsible for transporting sugars to fill grains”, says the technical coordinator at Tradecorp.

“In March we closed the management cycle with the application of potassium and amino acids, which help photosynthesis and the transport of potassium to the fruit”, concludes Luciano