Yield and nutritional status of the conilon coffee tree in organic fertilizer systems

The conilon coffee tree presents high yield potential, the replacement of soil nutrients usually being by the use of mineral fertilizers. To reduce these fertilizers, the use of organic waste may be an alternative. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of organic fertilizer systems on the nutritional status and yield of the conilon coffee tree. On a farm, located in the town of Linhares, Espirito Santo, during the agricultural year of 2009/2010, a trial was set up using a completely randomized block design with a factorial distribution of 2 x 2 x 5 and three replications, the factors being: organic compost (compost 1 and compost 2 ); legumes (the presence and absence of jack beans, sown between the rows of coffee trees); and the proportions of each compost (0; 25; 50; 75 and 100%) as a substitute for the recommended mineral fertilizer. The increase in the proportion of compost 2 was reflected as increases in the P content of the leaves due to the higher concentration of this nutrient in the compost. The increase in compost input increased the S content of the leaves as a response to the increase in soil pH. Maximum values of 61 and 66 sacks ha-1 were obtained with substitutions (mineral source by organic) in the proportion of 40 and 37% for compost 1 and compost 2 respectively. The use of organic-waste composts is an alternative as a partial replacement of mineral fertilizers in the conilon coffee tree, resulting in increases in yield.