Incorporation of biomass from three forage plants into the soil of a coffee plantation (Coffea canephora)

Abstract

Ecuador has ideal conditions for the intensive production of robusta coffee, supporting the local industry and exports. Since inorganic fertilizers are unsustainable, forages such as green fertilizers are sought to improve coffee production. Our objectives are: to determine the macro and micro elements of the soil before and after the contribution and of each of the forages, to evaluate the production of the coffee varieties. A randomized complete block design (DBCA) was used in a factorial arrangement of three varieties of robusta coffee (Coffea canephora) Napopayamino, Ecorobusta and Conilón and three forage varieties mucuna (Mucuna pruriens), buttercup (Tithonia diversifolia) and kudzu (Pueraria phaseoloides). ) with six repetitions and ten plants as experimental unit. The variables under study were: soil analysis at the beginning and end, foliar analysis of forages and coffee production (g/plant). The soil presented characteristics of acid to potentially neutral and the element phosphorus stood out, the highest level of nitrogen at the foliar level was reported by buttercup. The highest coffee production was reported in the ecorobusta variety with 16078 g (0.24 t ha-1) and in the kudzu legume with 11261.56 g (0.17 t ha-1). The use of forage crops improved the soil and coffee production.