TITLE:
Coffee Orchard Response to Enhanced Efficiency Phosphate Fertilizer
AUTHORS:
Roberto A. Reis Jr, Douglas R. Guelfi, Taylor L. Souza
KEYWORDS:
Agronomic P Efficiency, Coffee Bean Maturation, Policote
JOURNAL NAME:
American Journal of Plant Sciences,
Vol.14 No.12,
December
21,
2023
ABSTRACT: Phosphorus (P) plays a crucial role in plant growth by aiding in the
development of strong roots, promoting flower and fruit formation, and aiding
in photosynthesis. Studies to improve P fertilizers efficiency in coffee
orchards are necessary due to the need for better efficiency and the lack of
information on enhanced efficiency P fertilizers. This study aimed to
investigate the effect of MAP coated with anionic polymers (Policote) on coffee
orchard development. A coffee trial was carried out in a randomized block
design with three replications. The treatments, applied at coffee planting,
were arranged in an incomplete factorial (2 × 4) + 1, using two P sources (MAP
and Policote coated MAP), four P rates (40, 80, 120, and 160 g P2O5 plant-1) and control (without application of P fertilizer). Plant
height was evaluated in the 2016/2017, 2017/2018, and 2018/2019 seasons, while
coffee bean maturation, yield, and agronomic P efficiency use were evaluated in
the last two seasons. P fertilization did not affect coffee bean maturation and
increased coffee yield in 31-month-old plants when differences among P sources
and rates were observed. Using Policote-coated P fertilizer resulted in higher
yields at the same P rate, as well as similar yields at a lower P rate,
compared to conventional fertilizer. Policote-coated P fertilizer can be used
as an enhanced efficiency fertilizer and is an efficient way to deliver
required P to plants. The target for reducing farm investment, increasing
agricultural profits, preserving phosphatic rock reserves, and avoiding the
overuse of phosphate fertilizer could be realized through the rational use of
enhanced efficiency fertilizers.