Effect of balanced nutrition

and nitrogen form on coffee

productivity, bean quality
and the environment
-Experiences with Robusta in Vietnam-

12th African Fine Coffee Conference & Exhibition

Nairobi, February 12th – 14th 2015

Dr. Jürgen Küsters & Huong Lan Nguyen

Yara International ASA
Content of presentation

 Traditional field practices in coffee in Vietnam

 Improvements of fertilization practices in coffee in VN

 Conclusions for coffee production in Africa

Current situation in Vietnam

 2nd largest coffee producer and no.1 exporter of Robusta coffee in the world

 Highly weathered tropical soils, acid, low in basic cations

 Intensive production with high yields (avg. > 2 t beans/ha)

 Predicted decline in yield and quality because of aging trees and improper
field practices
– Old trees and poor management
– No or too little selective picking
– Unbalanced nutrition
– Too much N, S
– No application of Mg, Ca and Micronutrients
– Wrong form of N fertilizers (Urea, Ammonium Sulfate) further acidifying soils
Traditional practice in Vietnam is often based on
Urea and Ammonium sulfate (AS)

 Use of Urea and AS increase soils

acidification.

 The release of H+ ions increases the

acidity of the soil.

H+

Urea
NH4+ NO3-
AS
Ammonium Nitrate
 Soil pH and nutrient availability
Soil pH in H2O

Soil pH below the

optimum:
=> reduced nutrient
availability
=> risk of Al toxicity

pH of many Adequate
Vietnamese for coffee
soils
Content of presentation

 Traditional field practices in coffee in Vietnam

 Improvements of fertilization practices in coffee in VN

 Conclusions for coffee production in Africa

Possible improvements in coffee nutrition

• Apply concept of Balanced Nutrition

• Choice of other N fertilizer than Urea or Ammonium Sulfate

=> less soil acidification

• Apply nutrients at the right rate (according to demand)

=> higher nutrient use efficiency

• Apply all required nutrients (macro- and micronutrients)

=> better yield and quality
Balanced nutrition contributes to different
aspects of coffee production
Alternate
bearing
Tree Quality
Less yield
longevity fluctuation Better taste
Maintain Bigger beans
productivity of
older trees

Yield Health
Improve farmer Disease
profit resistance

Soil fertility Environment

Balanced
Maintain Carbon footprint
optimum pH, water footprint
CEC and OM
Nutrition acidification
Traditional practice versus Balanced nutrition
- Experiences from 50 trials with Robusta in Vietnam

Two plots on each of the farmer’s field

120 trees with 120 trees with

traditional fertilization balanced fertilization

- Urea - YaraMila NPK+Mg+TE

- NPK based on AS - YaraLiva Calcium
Nitrate
Nutrient application rates in the traditional and
balanced fertilizer program
kg/ha (Macronutrients)
100g/ha (B, Mn, Zn)

100% Ammonium-N 60% Nitrate-N

40% Ammonium-N
Results of traditional and balanced programs
– Demonstration trials with Robusta coffee in Vietnam 2010-2013

Difference
Category Traditional Balanced (Balanced vs.
Traditional)

Yield
3.27 3.63 +11%
(tons green bean/ha)

Bean weight
74.6 83.5 +12%
(g of 200 beans)

Farmer Profit
3360 3906 +16%
(USD/ha)

Carbon footprint
1845 846 -54%
(kgCO2eq/ton green bean)
Content of presentation

 Traditional field practices in coffee in Vietnam

 Improvements of fertilization practices in coffee in VN

 Conclusions for coffee production in Africa

N fertilizer inputs and yield achievements in
Vietnam compared to Eastern Africa

N fertilizer rate

N uptake of trees for 1 t green bean

3.63 t
(~130 kg N/ha):
green bean/ha

0.3 t
green bean/ha

(avg. of 50 trials) (country average)

Source: Results from trials, Elzebrock & Wind, 2008; Arzolla et al., 1963; Hart, 1969; Cannel & Kimeu, 1971; Catani &
Moraes, 1958; Malavolta, 1990; v.d. Vossen, 2005; Wilson, 1985; Ramiah, 1987; Snoeck & Duceau, 1978
 Balanced nutrition: Coffee needs more than
only Nitrogen
Arabica - India

Yield (kg/ha) Yield (kg/ha)

without P, K with 90 kg P2O5, 160 kg K2O

N fertilizer rate (kg N/ha) N fertilizer rate (kg N/ha)

REF: Stalin et al. – 1997

In tree crops it takes time before changes in
fertilization become visible
- Example: N fertilizer trial with Citrus in Brazil

Accumulated Fruit Yield, t ha-1

83 t/ha
Calcium Nitrate (+18%)

Ammonium Nitrate

Year
REF: Trial conducted by J.A. Quaggio (IAC Campinas, SP)
Recommended improvements in coffee nutrition
in Eastern Africa

Apply improved balanced nutrition concepts

 Recycling of nutrients in available organic material
 Stepwise increase of mineral fertilizer rates
 All nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, B, Zn)
 Soil and/or leaf analysis
 Reduce/avoid application of ammonium based fertilizers (Urea,
AS, DAP)
 Apply the nutrients regularly (every year)
Thank you