COFFEE CULTIVATION GUIDE - Coffee Board of India

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useful tool. The status of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium,
sulphur and other micro-nutrients can be exactly determined by chemical analysis of
the leaves and deficiency of any of the essential nutrient element can be identified to
take appropriate step in time before it becomes a limiting factor in productivity of the
plant. Simultaneous analysis of soil and complimentary leaf samples gives precise
requirement of nutrients and helps in enhancing the accuracy of fertilizer
recommendation services since these analyses are complimentary to each other.
The leaf analysis can be done ideally during February-March and September-
November months. Third pair of leaves from growing tip of Robusta plant branches
from the 2/3 height of the over all plant has to be collected randomly from the field. A
minimum of 25 pairs of leaves from one hectare land is necessary for precise analysis.
The leaf samples should be collected only during the morning time preferably before
10.00 a.m and placed between two sheets of blotting paper and packed in a perforated
polythene bags and sent to the laboratory immediately. The details on the block
history, age of the plant, fertilizers applied and crop harvested should be sent to the
laboratory while sending the leaf samples. These samples are then washed with clean
water and dilute hydrochloric acid to remove any superficial chemicals, dust and
spray particles adhering to the leaf surfaces before processing for chemical analysis.
6. CBB management
All the left over berries on the plants have to be cleanly collected and install
broca traps in the field. Follow other recommended phyto-sanitary control measures.
COFFEE BERRY BORER BORING THE COFFEE BERRY
7. Pruning
Pruning is an important cultural operation in coffee estates. Pruning of plants
reduces the greater risk of biennial bearing habits of the plants and helps in harvesting
average crop each year. Pruning helps in reducing the exhaustion in plants and
increases the fertilizer use efficiency by the plants. Other advantages of pruning are
that all the plant parts get good aeration and light and helps in reducing the pest and
disease incidence level.
In Robusta plantations, pruning is done immediately after the harvest. But is
strongly suggested that pruning operation should be started after observing the
environmental situations like there should be sufficient soil moisture and weather
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