STUDIES ON SOIL FERTILITY STATUS OF COFFEE GROWING REGIONS IN IDUKKI DISTRICT

P. SHIVA PRASAD¹*, N. HARIYAPPA², RAJIB PATI³, J.S. NAGARAJA⁴, N. CHANDRASHEKAR⁵, S.A. NADAF⁶, S.B. HAREESH⁷, D.H. VENKATESH⁸, K. SUJATHA^9
1Coffee Research Sub Station, Chettalli, Kodagu District, Karnataka, 571248, India
²Central Coffee Research Institute, Chikamagalur, 577 117, Karnataka, India
³Regional Coffee Research Station, Thandigudi, Tamilnadu, 624216, India
⁴Central Coffee Research Institute, Chikamagalur, 577 117, Karnataka, India
⁵Regional Coffee Research Station, Narasipatnam, Andhra Pradesh, 531133, India
⁶Central Coffee Research Institute, Chikamagalur, 577 117, Karnataka, India
⁷Central Coffee Research Institute, Chikamagalur, 577 117, Karnataka, India
⁸Regional Centre, ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey & Land Use Planning, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560024, India
⁹Regional Centre, ICAR-National Bureau of Soil Survey & Land Use Planning, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560024, India
* Corresponding Author : shivaprasadccri@gmail.com

Received : 05-07-2018     Accepted : 12-07-2018     Published : 15-07-2018
Volume : 10     Issue : 13       Pages : 6568 - 6572
Int J Agr Sci 10.13 (2018):6568-6572

Keywords : Coffee, Soil fertility, Major nutrient, Secondary nutrient, Micronutrient
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : The authors are thankful to Dr Maria Violet D Souza, Deputy Director (R), Regional Coffee Research Station, Thandigudi, Tamilnadu, 624216, India, Dr C.G. Ananda, Joint Director (R) and Dr Y. Raghuramulu, Director of Research, Central Coffee Research Institute, Chikamagalur, 577 117, Karnataka, India, for all their support and help extended to us in conducting these studies
Author Contribution : All author equally contributed

Soil test based nutrition management will help to use chemical fertilizers prudently, thereby improving fertilizer use efficiency which in turn preserves the environmental quality along with sustainable crop production. To evaluate the fertility of the soils of coffee in Idukki district, systematic soil sampling representing the entire coffee growing areas of the district was carried out. In order to know the fertility status of the soil this study was carried out and observed that prolonged higher acidity (98%) of coffee soils with deficiencies of phosphorus (42%), calcium (39%), magnesium (88%), sulphur (39%) and boron (39%) have limitations on coffee productivity in the district. The vast area of coffee in the district is strongly acidic (67%) due to lack of liming and continuous use of acid producing fertilizers. Deficiency of calcium and magnesium affects uptake of other nutrients in turn effect cellular functions. In coffee, boron deficiency will affect the productivity by poor flowering and fruit set. Amelioration of soil acidity and optimal use of major, secondary and micronutrients are must to enhance coffee productivity in the district. Based on soil test values, application of manures and fertilizers will save the fertilizers and also sustain the soil health. Integrated management of plant nutrients is essential to achieve sustainable coffee crop production.

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