Controlled irrigation and nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium fertilization affect the biochemical composition and quality of Arabica coffee beans

Abstract

Controlled irrigation during the dry period associated with adequate nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P) and potassium (K) fertilization led to the accumulation of biochemical compounds in coffee beans considered as positive precursors of beverage quality. Adult plants of coffee (Coffea arabica 'Rubi') were cultivated using different water regimes (WR) and fertilization conditions under the dry climate of the Brazilian Cerrado. Coffee-bean physical characteristics were evaluated as well as biochemical composition by near-infrared analysis. The K treatment mostly affected bean biochemistry, lipid and chlorogenic acid (CGA) contents, which increased with increasing amounts of fertilizer. Caffeine contents increased with higher amounts of N, but no significant effects of P treatment on bean biochemical composition were observed. Sucrose and total lipid contents always appeared higher in beans of non-irrigated plants than those beans from plants grown with continuous irrigation. In contrast, caffeine and CGA contents were higher in beans of irrigated as compared with non-irrigated plants. For the first time, the current results showed that controlled management of irrigation during the dry period associated with reasonable NPK fertilization led to the accumulation of biochemical compounds in coffee beans considered as positive precursors of beverage quality. (Résumé d'auteur

Why could the coffee crop endure climate change and global warming to a greater extent than previously estimated?

“…Nevertheless, prevalence of high temperatures in the field often coincides with decreased water availability and high atmospheric VPD (compared to the controlled conditions in the study of Ramalho et al (2018)). Given that water supply per se might affect coffee bean quality (Vinecky et al 2017), it is anticipated that a negative interaction between water supply and temperature could occur under field conditions, which would ultimately exacerbate impairments on coffee bean and beverage quality.…”

Differential fine-tuning of gene expression regulation in coffee leaves by CcDREB1D promoter haplotypes under water deficit

“…These climatic events, which already affect coffee production, are expected to change the areas suitable for coffee cultivation ( Davis et al , 2012 ; Bunn et al , 2015 ; Craparo et al , 2015 ). Drought is a limiting factor that affects flowering and yield of coffee ( DaMatta and Ramalho, 2006 ), as well as bean development and biochemical composition and hence the final quality of the beverage ( Silva et al , 2005 ; Vinecky et al , 2016 ). Increased [CO 2 ] in air is also a key factor for coffee plant acclimation to high temperature, strengthening the photosynthetic pathway, metabolism and antioxidant protection, and modifying gene transcription and mineral balance ( Ramalho et al , 2013 ; Martins et al , 2014 , 2016 ; Ghini et al , 2015 ; Rodrigues et al , 2016 ).…”

Can Elevated Air [CO2] Conditions Mitigate the Predicted Warming Impact on the Quality of Coffee Bean?

“…Nonetheless, high temperatures in the field may occur with concurrent decreased water availability and high atmospheric vapor pressure deficit (compared to the controlled conditions in this study). Given that water supply per se might affect coffee bean quality ( Vinecky et al, 2017 ), it is anticipated that a negative interaction between water supply and temperature could occur under field conditions, which would ultimately exacerbate impairments on coffee bean quality. If so, these facts could help explaining why we found a weaker heat impact on bean quality than that has been usually reported.…”