What are the preferences of Coffee Arabica regarding soil pH, texture, nutrient levels, etc ?
Does a soil pH of 3.5 - 4.5 is low for coffee production ? Should it be corrected ?
soil is one of the major and important factor for coffee plantations. The red sandy loam to sandy clay loam soils are best suited with acidic pH. further high organic matter content with well drained soils are much more suitable particularly under temperate climate.
Check this link the articles maybe help you
https://es.slideshare.net/FAOoftheUN/types-of-soil-and-ideal-conditions-for-growing-coffee
http://vikaspedia.in/agriculture/crop-production/package-of-practices/plantation-crops/coffee-production-guide
https://ecofriendlycoffee.org/monitoring-soil-ph-inside-coffee-plantations/
the references affirm The optimum range is 6.0 to 7.5 when you check the articles
The soil pH should be maintained at around 6.1 in coffee soils.
Due to the continuous application of acid causing fertilizers like ammonium sulphate, ammonium chloride and DAP and due to the leaching of calcium and magnesium elements in the soil, the soils tend to become acidic. Therefore, to monitor the soil pH, soils have to be tested compulsorily once in 2-3 years. When the soil pH goes above 6.2 or comes below 6.1, the soil pH needs to be corrected because the availability of essential plant nutrients depends on the soil pH. Strongly acidic soils (pH below 4.5) are relatively poor in productivity because of essential plant nutrient deficiencies or toxicities of essential or non essential elements. Highly acidic soils are harmful for the useful soil micro-organism and in such soils coffee plant growth is always tend to be stunted in nature. If the soils are alkaline (above pH 7.0), most of the essential plant nutrients are not available to the plants. Whenever, the coffee soil pH falls below 6.1, the soil pH should be corrected by the application of alkali forming soil amendments like agricultural lime(Calcium Carbonate), dolomite ( Calcium and Magnesium Carbonates). Liming of the coffee soils can be done anytime of the year except during monsoon period.
(Ref: Director of Research Central Coffee Research Institute Coffee Research Station-577117 Chikmagalur District Karnataka,India)
o Soil texture: heavy clay soils- is not suitable and have poor soil drainage as a result of which root penetration and growth is either difficult or impossible.
o soil drainage: well drained soil
o soil depth: ideal meter is 3 meters (Willson,1985).
o Soil PH: coffee is grown on soils varying from extremely acid (pH below 4.0) to slightly alkaline (pH up to 8.0). However, neither of these extremes is suitable for economic high output production. A slightly acid soil is preferred.
o In Ethiopia coffee growing is suitable in acidic soil. i.e red to brown-red, lateric loams or clay loams of volcanic origin, which havine a pH range of 4.5 to 6. (Sylvian, 1955)
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