Yale University

SCHOOL OF FORESTRY & ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES THE EFFECT OF ROOTS® ON THE GROWTH OF COFFEE SEEDLINGS by Ricardo Russo Introduction Coffee seedling production is carried out to establish new plantations and to replace part of every established coffee crop. In this nursery activity, the seedlings are given appropriate fertilization. A new biostimulant, ROOTS® claims to enhance nutrient uptake, allowing the same growth results with less fertilizer. The objective of the present research was to evaluate the effect of ROOTS® on coffee seedlings when fertilization is reduced by 50%. Background The production of coffee planting material is initiated through a process using a seed bed (31semillero) and then a germinator (almacigal11); when the seedlings have reached 3-5 centimeters in height they are transplanted from the semillero to the almacigal, at a spacing of 20-25 cm between plants, around 200,000 seedlings per hectare of almacigal11. Nitrogen has been reported as a key nutrient to which the coffee seedling responds in growth and development. The Office for Coffee from the Ministry of Agriculture of Costa Rica recommends fertilizing with 400 kg of N/ha, which represents around 2 grams of N per seedling, divided in four applications. A proper balance and adequate supply of other nutrients must be maintained. These can be added in complete fertilizer formulas or in response to soil analyses of the nursery site to compensate deficiencies. The need of maintaining an adequate concentration of humate material in the soil has been recognized by agriculturalists for many years. Achard in 1786, cited by Burdick (1965), conduced and published research on humus two hundred years ago. Also, very low concentrations of purified huinates have been shown to stimulate seed germination, root respiration and root growth, especially lengthwise (Gumninski, 1960). The use of a combination of humic acid and marine algae extracts and metabolites (basic components of the product ROOTS used in this experiment) as a promotor of water and nutrient uptake has not been tested in coffee seedlings.

SCHOOL OF FORESTRY &

ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

THE EFFECT OF ROOTS® ON THE GROWTH OF COFFEE SEEDLINGS

by Ricardo Russo

Introduction

Coffee seedling production is carried out to establish new plantations and to replace part of every established coffee crop. In this nursery activity, the seedlings are given appropriate fertilization. A new biostimulant, ROOTS® claims to enhance nutrient uptake, allowing the same growth results with less fertilizer.

The objective of the present research was to evaluate the effect of ROOTS® on coffee seedlings when fertilization is reduced by 50%.

Background

The production of coffee planting material is initiated through a process using a seed bed (31semillero) and then a germinator (almacigal11); when the seedlings have reached 3-5 centimeters in height they are transplanted from the semillero to the almacigal, at a spacing of 20-25 cm between plants, around 200,000 seedlings per hectare of almacigal11.

Nitrogen has been reported as a key nutrient to which the coffee seedling responds in growth and development. The Office for Coffee from the Ministry of Agriculture of Costa Rica recommends fertilizing with 400 kg of N/ha, which represents around 2 grams of N per seedling, divided in four applications. A proper balance and adequate supply of other nutrients must be maintained. These can be added in complete fertilizer formulas or in response to soil analyses of the nursery site to compensate deficiencies.

The need of maintaining an adequate concentration of humate material in the soil has been recognized by agriculturalists for many years. Achard in 1786, cited by Burdick (1965), conduced and published research on humus two hundred years ago. Also, very low concentrations of purified huinates have been shown to stimulate seed germination, root respiration and root growth, especially lengthwise (Gumninski, 1960).

The use of a combination of humic acid and marine algae extracts and metabolites (basic components of the product ROOTS used in this experiment) as a promotor of water and nutrient uptake has not been tested in coffee seedlings.