Spacial distribution of fertigated coffee root system

Abstract

The development of coffee plant root system changes when subjected to drip irrigation and fertigation. This work aimed to evaluate the effects of different levels of fertigation on the development of coffee root system by drip irrigation in western Bahia. The experiment was carried out with Catuaí Vermelho IAC 144 coffee plants, of about 3.5 years of age, in the "Café do Rio Branco" farm, located in Barreiras -BA, and consisted of a complete randomized blocks design with 3 replicates. Treatments consisted of three levels of nitrogen and potassium fertilization (900/800, 600/500 and 300/250 kg ha -1 year -1 N and K 2 O), weekly distributed, by means of fertigation, throughout the process. After the fourth harvest, coffee root system was evaluated, and root length density (RLD) and root density (RD) were determined at different sampled layers. The highest root concentration, root length density (RLD), and root density (RD) were observed in the superficial layers of soil (0-20 cm), and under the dripline (30 and 70 cm from the orthotropic branch). Results showed that the lower the N and K 2 O levels, the higher was the development (RLD and RD) of the coffee root system. Index terms:Coffea arabica L.; irrigation; nitrogen fertilization; potassium fertilization. RESUMOO desenvolvimento do sistema radicular do cafeeiro é alterado quando submetido à irrigação localizada e fertirrigação. Este trabalho foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos de diferentes doses de fertirrigação sobre o desenvolvimento do sistema radicular do cafeeiro irrigado por gotejamento na região Oeste da Bahia. Realizou-se o trabalho na fazenda Café do Rio Branco, localizada em Barreiras -BA, em cafeeiros de aproximadamente 3,5 anos de idade, da variedade Catuaí IAC 144. O experimento foi montado em um esquema fatorial 3 x 3, sendo três níveis de adubação nitrogenada e potássica (900/800, 600/500 e 300/250 kg ha -1 ano -1 de N e K 2 O), em 3 parcelamentos mensais de fertirrigação (2, 4 e 8 vezes). Após a quarta safra, o sistema radicular do cafeeiro foi avaliado e a densidade de comprimento radicular (DCR) e densidade radicular (DR) em diferentes camadas amostradas foram determinadas. A maior concentração de raízes, densidade de comprimento radicular (DCR) e densidade radicular (DR) foi obtida nas camadas superficiais (0-20 cm) e sob a linha lateral (30 e 70 cm de distância do ramo ortotrópico). As menores doses de N e K 2 O propiciaram maior desenvolvimento (DCR e DR) do sistema radicular do cafeeiro.Termos para indexação: Coffea arabica L.; irrigação; adubação nitrogenada; adubação potássica.

Effect of Irrigation on Root Development of Coffee Plants

“…The roots up to 20 cm depth are the main responsible for the water absorption in the coffee tree, according to the classic definition of absorbent roots with diameter less than 1.0 mm (RENA; DAMATTA, 2002). Values of the orders of 7.1 and 10.4 cm cm -3 have been reported for the 0-20-cm layer in seed-and cutting-propagated coffee plants variety Conilon under different doses of potassium and nitrogen in fertigation, respectively (PARTELLI et al, 2006;VICENTE et al, 2017). The authors also observed this reduction of root density with depth.…”

“…Approximately 80% of the active absorbing roots in Arabica coffee were found within the depth of 20 cm (VICENTE et al, 2017). Several authors observed a higher concentration of coffee roots in the uppermost layers (COVRE et al, 2015;VICENTE et al, 2017;DARDENGO et al 2018).…”

“…Water determines the success of coffee farming, since it influences the phenology of the plant and, consequently, its productivity, product quality and commercial viability (SILVA et al, 2019). The root system of the coffee varies depending on species, genotype, plant age, season, crop density, biotic stresses, texture, and soil structure (PARTELLI et al, 2014;RONCHI et al, 2015) Although the root system of coffee has its development characteristics linked primarily to the plant genetics, other factors can also modify its spatial distribution; e.g., amount of water present in the soil (BARRETO et al, 2006) and nutrient availability to plants (VICENTE et al, 2017). The water availability provided by irrigation can influence the primary and secondary development of the root system in the various soil layers (SOUZA et al, 2018).…”

Mapping within‑field variability of soybean evapotranspiration and crop coefficient using the Earth Engine Evaporation Flux (EEFlux) application

“…Soybean ETa was estimated by the modified FAO method (MFAO), an approach verified in Brazil in large irrigated commercial areas and abroad, through the irrigation platform “IRRIGER Connect” from Valmont Industries [ 38 ]. This methodology is also largely applied in scientific research [ 39 – 41 ]. The MFAO method is derived from the single-crop coefficient empirical method (Allen et al, 1998; Doorenbos and Pruitt, 1977), which is one of the most commonly used methods for irrigation water management [ 42 , 43 ] ( Eq 1 ).…”

Methodology for Dimensioning of a Center Pivot Irrigation System Operating With Dripper Type Emitter

“…An alternative sprinkler system is the drip, which minimizes the loss of water by evaporation allowing the distribution of water for plants, and in the desired amount, moreover, there is the immersion of the aerial part of plants, and contributes to the reduction of the incidence of weeds (Oliveira et al, 2014). Vicente et al (2011), determined the uniformity of application of 27 central pivot irrigation systems, located in three municipalities in the region West of Bahia (Brazil) and concluded that the Calculation methodology of a center pivot irrigation system operating with dripper type emitter Eng. Agríc., Jaboticabal, v.37, n.4, p.828-837, jul./ago.…”