Management zones in coffee cultivation

Abstract

A B S T R A C TThis study aimed to apply precision agriculture techniques in coffee production, using correlation analysis in the definition of management zones. This work was carried out in a 22-ha area of coffee (Coffea arabica L.), cv. 'Topázio MG 1190' , which was sampled on a regular grid, using a topographic GPS, totaling 64 georeferenced samples (on average, 2.9 points per ha). Descriptive analysis was used in the data, followed by Pearson's correlation analysis at 0.05 significance between soil chemical attributes, agronomic characteristics of the plants and altitude. It was possible to verify the correlation of soil chemical attributes, agronomic characteristics of the plants and altitude with coffee yield. Altitude was the variable most correlated with coffee yield through correlation analysis. Therefore, it was chosen as the best variable to define management zones and thematic maps capable to support coffee farmers. Three maps were generated to characterize the area in two, three and four management zones. There was a direct influence on mean yield.Definição de zonas de manejo para cafeicultura R E S U M O Objetivou-se, com o presente estudo, aplicar técnicas de agricultura de precisão no cultivo do café utilizando análise de correlação na definição de zonas de manejo. O trabalho foi desenvolvido em uma área de 22 ha de lavoura de cafeeiro (Coffea arabica L.) da cultivar Topázio MG 1190. Demarcou-se na área em estudo e com a utilização de GPS topográfico, uma malha amostral regular totalizando 64 pontos amostrais georreferenciados (em média 2,9 pontos por ha). Utilizou-se o método de análise descritiva dos dados seguido da análise de correlação de Pearson a 0,05 de significância entre os atributos de solo, características agronômicas da planta e altitude. Foi possível verificar a correlação dos atributos do solo, das características agronômicas das plantas e da altitude com a produtividade. Através da análise de correlação observou-se que a altitude foi a variável que mais se correlacionou com a produtividade sendo, assim, selecionada como variável mais propícia para geração de zonas de manejo e de mapas temáticos capazes de auxiliar os cafeicultores. Foram gerados três mapas que caracterizam a área em duas, três e quatro zonas de manejo. Verificou-se que houve influência direta na média da produtividade.

Spatial variability in fertigated coffee yields and plant nutrients in soil saturation extracts

“…The lowest coffee yields (<2.3 kg plant -1 ) were found at the longitudinal extremities of the study site while the highest values were found at higher and more central longitudinal bands. Other studies have found similarly wide spatial variations in coffee yields (Ferraz et al, 2018, Ferraz et al, 2012, Jacintho et al, 2017, and Silva et al, 2008. All plant nutrient levels in the soil saturation extract, except Zinc, followed the same pattern as variations in yield.…”

“…Zinc levels, on the other hand, were lowest in areas with the highest coffee yields. The agricultural and environmental significance of the current study is underlined by the lack of studies on precision agriculture or management zones that examine the relationship between plant nutrition levels and the soil solution under fertigated coffee, which is in contrast to the level of attention given to soil chemical attributes (Ferraz et al, 2018, Jacintho et al, 2017and Silva et al, 2008.…”

Plant sampling grid determination in precision agriculture in coffee field

“…The climate of the region is Cwa according to Köppen classification, characterized as mild, high altitude tropical climate, hot and rainy summer (SÁ JUNIOR et al, 2012). The soil of the area was classified as clayey dystrophic red latosol (FERRAz et al, 2017;JACINThO et al, 2017).…”

Spatial variability of soil physical properties in longitudinal profiles

“…The annual evaporation rate of the region is on average, 1.000 mm per year (INMET 2010). The soil of the area was classified as clayey dystrophic red latosol (Ferraz et al 2017, Jacintho et al 2017.…”