The role of potassium and magnesium in the nutrition and yield of Coffea arabica L

The results of a sand-culture experiment conducted at the Coffee Research Station, Ruiru, Kenya, with the aim of investigating the effects of K-Mg interaction in coffee using Coffea arabica L. (variety SL28) as a test-crop are presented. Both K and Mg were applied factorially, each at the rates of 0:5, 1, 2 and 4 meq. The nutrient solution were prepared after Hewitt (standard Long Ashton nutrient solution). Both K and Mg showed a tendency to increase the girth, the number of branches per tree, the number of leaves per tree and the number of berries per tree. K gave the best effect at 2 meq while Mg was most effective at 4 meq the effect of K beigh mainly quadratic and that of Mg mainly linear. Highest response was obteined from the treatment supplying 2 meq of each nutrient. There was a significant K-Mg interaction on girth. At high K levels and low Mg levels three was `dieback' of branches and significant leaf fall, especially during fruiting. Application of K and Mg resulted in significant increases in the foliar contents of these nutrients. There was also a significant negative interaction between K and Mg, the effect of K on leaf-Mg content being stronger than that of Mg on leaf content. The effect of K on leaf-Mg content was stronger in the presence of applied Mg. K showed a tendency to reduce leaf-Ca content. Both K and Mg had small but negative effect on foliar-P content, but a favourable one on foliar-N content. The impolications of these results on the nutrition and yield of Coffea arabica L. especially under conditions prevailing in Kenya, are discussed

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	101875 Oruko, B.A., 71093 Gatitu, G.M.
Format:	biblioteca
Published:	Feb
Subjects:	COFFEA ARABICA, FERTILIZANTES, MAGNESIO, POTASIO, MEJORAMIENTO NUTRICIONAL, PRODUCCION BIOLOGICA, RENDIMIENTO, EFECTOS DEL MAGNESIO EN LAS PLANTAS, EFECTOS DEL POTASIO,
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