Coffee Fertilization in Hawaii
Coffee trees should be fertilized according to their (phenological) developmental phases (vegetative growth, flowering, fruiting, etc.) and yield expectations [73,97]. For example, nutrient demand is greatest during the fruit development and ripening stages. The booklet “Growing Coffee in Hawaii” provides examples of a fertilizer regiment to replace nutrients removed from the soil and tree during harvest for a farm producing 10,000 pounds of cherry per acre [74]. Additional fertilizer is also necessary to replace nutrients removed as a result of pruning, leaching, and binding (a form that cannot be taken up by the plant) of elements in the soil.
Fertilizer incompatibility can lead to crop damage, reduced efficacy and efficiency, and increased costs. Before mixing products together, always read and follow product label directions. Follow the WALES or DALES order of mixing and conduct a jar test [158] to ensure compatibility of fertilizers and fertilizers with other products.
Some fertilizers should not be mixed due to incompatibility. Such examples are 1) calcium nitrate plus ammonium phosphate which may form calcium phosphate, a precipitant product that is insoluble in water; and 2) a high phosphorus fertilizer plus a foliar micronutrient fertilizer solution which may create a solution that is insoluble with phosphate unless the cations (such as boron, zinc, copper, iron etc.) are in a chelated form.
Record keeping and crop logging to balance fertilizer use and its benefits, can help farmers to reduce the under- and/or over-application of fertilizers and protect the environment and keep their trees healthy and productive.
While there are various types of fertilizers [166], the sections below pertain to those frequently used by or new to Hawaii coffee production.
Fertilizer incompatibility can lead to crop damage, reduced efficacy and efficiency, and increased costs. Before mixing products together, always read and follow product label directions. Follow the WALES or DALES order of mixing and conduct a jar test [158] to ensure compatibility of fertilizers and fertilizers with other products.
Some fertilizers should not be mixed due to incompatibility. Such examples are 1) calcium nitrate plus ammonium phosphate which may form calcium phosphate, a precipitant product that is insoluble in water; and 2) a high phosphorus fertilizer plus a foliar micronutrient fertilizer solution which may create a solution that is insoluble with phosphate unless the cations (such as boron, zinc, copper, iron etc.) are in a chelated form.
Record keeping and crop logging to balance fertilizer use and its benefits, can help farmers to reduce the under- and/or over-application of fertilizers and protect the environment and keep their trees healthy and productive.
While there are various types of fertilizers [166], the sections below pertain to those frequently used by or new to Hawaii coffee production.
- Granular and organic topical fertilizers
- Foliar fertilizers
- Slow-release fertilizers
- Fertigation
- Plant biostimulants
73. Beaumont, J. H., and E. T. Fukunaga. 1958. Factors affecting the growth and yield of coffee in Kona, Hawaii. Hawaii Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 113. http://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/B-113.pdf.
74. Bittenbender, H. C.; Smith, V. E. 2008. Growing Coffee in Hawaii. College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa. Honolulu, HI, USA, pp. 40. https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/coffee08.pdf.
97.
158. Galanti, R. and J. Bloese. (2022). Pesticide compatibility: Jar testing before tank mixing. PRRE-11. College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa. https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/PRRE-11.pdf.
166.
74. Bittenbender, H. C.; Smith, V. E. 2008. Growing Coffee in Hawaii. College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa. Honolulu, HI, USA, pp. 40. https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/coffee08.pdf.
97.
158. Galanti, R. and J. Bloese. (2022). Pesticide compatibility: Jar testing before tank mixing. PRRE-11. College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa. https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/PRRE-11.pdf.
166.