Influence of nitrogen fertilization in mother plants on the growth and quality of clonal seedlings of Coffea canephora ‘Robusta’ plants

Abstract

The nutritional management of the coffee clonal garden influences the production and physiological quality and seedlings production of vegetative propagules. Thus, this study aimed to analyze the seedlings’ production from clonal cuttings taken from Coffea canephora mother plants grown with increasing nitrogen mineral doses. The cuttings were taken from C. canephora var. botany Robusta, from the Embrapa Genetic Improvement Program of Rondônia. The mother plants received nitrogen fertilizer at different doses: 0 (Control); 50; 100; 150; 200; 250 and 300 kg of N per hectare divided into 4 applications, during 150 days of orthotropic stems growth (shoots). The following parameters were evaluated: Dry mass of cuttings, nutritional content of cuttings, and seedlings production, with growth analysis at 0, 48, 61, 80, 101, 122, 143, and 164 days after staking (DAS) and analysis of vegetative characteristics at 122 DAS. The nitrogen fertilization in the mother plant resulted in the variation of macronutrient accumulation in cuttings, but the order K> N> Ca> P> Mg> S was maintained, regardless of N dose. In addition, a positive correlation between nitrogen doses and dry matter accumulation, as well as the physiological quality of seedlings was identified.

Accumulation of Nutrients and the Relation between Fruit, Grain, and Husk of Coffee Robusta Cultivated in Brazilian Amazon

“…Genotypes showing similar N, P, and K results facilitate nutritional management due to the common use of ready-formulated fertilizers such as 20-05-20 and 20-0-20 [6,20]. Regarding nutrients such as N (highly demanded and liable to several losses in soil-plant-atmosphere systems), researchers must know their absorption and accumulation dynamics in the various organs of plants since nursery [21,22].…”

Robustas Amazônicos: Qualidade Do Café De Rondônia

“…Entende-se por café clonal a multiplicação de mudas através de propagação assexuada, utilizando principalmente métodos de estaquia. No estado, há cerca de noventa viveiristas registrados, sendo estes responsáveis pela produção e comercialização dos diferentes genótipos de café de Rondônia (5) , utilizando segmentos de brotos ortotrópicos secundários como propágulos vegetativos que são comumente chamados de estacas clonais, sendo estes retirados de uma planta mãe, favorecendo a reprodutividade e característica da mesma (13) .…”