Fertilizing coffee plantations increases profitability and quality of the drink

Committed to contributing to the sustainable, productive and profitable development of rural production, Mosaic Fertilizers, one of the largest producers of combined phosphates and potassium, has developed a solution that has resulted in average increases of up to 3,3 bags per hectare in coffee plantations. In addition to increasing productivity, coffee growers are also looking to increase the quality of the beans, since the excellence of the final drink has translated into attractive profitability.

“Taking good care of your soil health is one of the main ways to achieve levels of excellence in coffee quality. Balanced nutrition combined with the best crop management practices allow the coffee plant to have important nutrients available for the production of compounds that give flavor and aroma to the coffee, directly influencing the quality of the drink”, explains Flávio Bonini, Technical Services manager at Mosaic Fertilizers.

Thinking about the needs of coffee plantations, coffee farmers and committed to fulfilling its mission of helping the world produce the food it needs, Mosaic Fertilizers developed K-Mag, a fertilizer with an exclusive formulation that presents a notable increase in productivity. As it contains three highly soluble nutrients – magnesium, sulfur and potassium – and low chlorine content, fertilization with K-Mag results in more homogeneous and healthier crops, with grain filling and healthier fruit development.

When in adequate concentrations, magnesium becomes essential for photosynthesis, phosphorus absorption and plant tolerance to stress. When the soil is magnesium deficient, crop development is compromised, with impacts on water and nutrient absorption, reducing crop productivity and the quality of coffee beans.

Another nutrient offered by the K-Mag fertilizer is sulfur, which increases the caffeine content in the grains, contributing to the quality of the drink. Potassium also contributes to the filling of the fruits and regulates the exchange of gases and the loss of water into the environment, ensuring that the plant is always hydrated to the correct extent.

“The nutrient demand of a crop must be fully met to achieve high productivity and greater resistance to climatic, water and disease stresses. One essential element cannot be replaced by another, and the deficiency or absence of any nutrient will certainly have a negative impact on the productivity of the coffee plantation”, says Bonini.

The exchange relationship between fertilizers and grains is positive and coffee growers need solutions that increase soil fertility to increase profitability without compromising sustainability. Currently the scenario is positive for coffee growers in the country. The Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) raised the forecast for the Brazilian coffee harvest to 53,2 million bags, an increase of 8,6% compared to 2021.

With the most complete soil nutrition portfolio on the market, Mosaic Fertilizers constantly invests in the development of technologies that generate chemical, physical and biological benefits to soils and production processes. In this way, the company helps farmers achieve the maximum genetic potential of crops, contributing to the expansion of more sustainable agricultural systems adapted to scenarios of climate change and food demand.