Performance of Arabica Coffee under Integrated Nutrient Management: Phosphorus Management in Coffee Soils of India

Introduction Use of fertilizers in conventional coffee cultivation has been reported to have poor nutrient use efficiency due to red non-gravelly clay type of coffee soils (MOLLIC KANDIUDALFS) under excessive rainfall. However, complete replacement of fertilizer by manures to avoid such losses may not be an easy alternative as manures contain few nutrients in lower concentration in addition to the cost implication. Hence, it is desirable to adopt integrated approach in meeting the nutrient demand of the crop. This approach involves application of chemical fertilizers, organic manures or coffee pulp residues to bridge the gap between nutrient demand and supply to improve the crop yield. Phosphorus management in the agricultural soils is still an unresolved mystery that too under acid soil environment. Most of the P is fixed in the form of insoluble aluminum and iron phosphates and reduce the fertilizer use efficiency. The available P management to cope with the nutrient demands of the crops. In order to accomplish this endeavor the phosphates reserves in various forms need to be evaluated and the scope of microorganisms involved in transformation of non labile P to available form.