Soil pH
The pH value of Hawaii soils [149] can be influenced by its parent materials and age (soil type), rainfall and leaching (of metals), the application of fertilizers, and the presence or absence of organic matter. Figure 2 [143] shows how certain macro and micro-nutrients are affected by acidic and alkaline soils.
In Hawaii, mature coffee trees grow well in deep, well-drained soil with pH ranging from 4.5 to 7.0 but coffee seedlings may require soil pH closer to 6.0 as well as supplemental calcium and zinc for maximum biomass production [74,138]. Soils too high or too low in pH can lead to nutritional deficiencies [91] and/or toxicities in coffee.
As necessary, amend the soil pH prior to or during planting by mixing liming or acidifying products into the soil or media. These products can be applied topically to the soil post-planting, but pH adjustments take longer and typically only occur within the first few inches of the soil profile.
In Hawaii, mature coffee trees grow well in deep, well-drained soil with pH ranging from 4.5 to 7.0 but coffee seedlings may require soil pH closer to 6.0 as well as supplemental calcium and zinc for maximum biomass production [74,138]. Soils too high or too low in pH can lead to nutritional deficiencies [91] and/or toxicities in coffee.
As necessary, amend the soil pH prior to or during planting by mixing liming or acidifying products into the soil or media. These products can be applied topically to the soil post-planting, but pH adjustments take longer and typically only occur within the first few inches of the soil profile.
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Figure 2. The general effects of soil pH on nutrient availability as adapted from Truog [167] and McFarland et al. [168]. Soils too low (red color) or too high (green color) in pH can cause macro- and micro-nutrient deficiencies in plants. The elements are relatively more available to plants where the bar is widest, and availability decreases as the bar narrows.
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74. Bittenbender, H. C.; Smith, V. E. 2008. Growing coffee in Hawaii. University of Hawaii: Honolulu, HI, USA, pp. 40. https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/coffee08.pdf.
91. Nagao, M. A., K. D. Kobayashi, and G. M. Yasuda. 1986. Mineral Deficiency Symptoms of Coffee. Research Extension Series 073. College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa. https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/RES-073.pdf.
138. Hurchanik, D., D. P. Schmitt, N. V. Hue, and B. S. Sipes. 2004. Plant Nutrient Partitioning in Coffee Infected with Meloidogyne konaensis. Journal of Nematology, 36(1): 76–84. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2620733/.
143. Samson, R., T. Ningal, A. Tiwary, R. Grote, S. Fares, H. Saaroni, J. Hiemstra, M. Zhiyanski, U. Vilhar, P. Carinanos, L. Järvi, A. Przybysz, M. Moretti, and N. Zürcher. 2017. Chapter 12: Species-Specific Information for Enhancing Ecosystem Services. In D. Pearlmutter et al. (Eds.), The Urban Forest: Cultivating Green Infrastructure for People and the Environment, Future City 7, (pp. 111-144). DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-50280-9_12.
149. Deenik, J. and A. T. McClellan. 2007. Soils of Hawaii. SCM-20. College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa. https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/scm-20.pdf.
167. Truog, E. 1947. Soil Reaction Influence on Availability of Plant Nutrients. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 11(C): 305–308. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1947.036159950011000C0057x.
168. McFarland, C. R., D. R. Huggins, and R. T. Koenig. 2015. Soil pH and Implications for Management: An Introduction - Soil acidification series. Washington State University: Pullman, WA. https://wpcdn.web.wsu.edu/wp-ecommerce/uploads/sites/2/product-4169-sku-FS170E.pdf.
91. Nagao, M. A., K. D. Kobayashi, and G. M. Yasuda. 1986. Mineral Deficiency Symptoms of Coffee. Research Extension Series 073. College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa. https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/RES-073.pdf.
138. Hurchanik, D., D. P. Schmitt, N. V. Hue, and B. S. Sipes. 2004. Plant Nutrient Partitioning in Coffee Infected with Meloidogyne konaensis. Journal of Nematology, 36(1): 76–84. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2620733/.
143. Samson, R., T. Ningal, A. Tiwary, R. Grote, S. Fares, H. Saaroni, J. Hiemstra, M. Zhiyanski, U. Vilhar, P. Carinanos, L. Järvi, A. Przybysz, M. Moretti, and N. Zürcher. 2017. Chapter 12: Species-Specific Information for Enhancing Ecosystem Services. In D. Pearlmutter et al. (Eds.), The Urban Forest: Cultivating Green Infrastructure for People and the Environment, Future City 7, (pp. 111-144). DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-50280-9_12.
149. Deenik, J. and A. T. McClellan. 2007. Soils of Hawaii. SCM-20. College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii at Manoa. https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/scm-20.pdf.
167. Truog, E. 1947. Soil Reaction Influence on Availability of Plant Nutrients. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J. 11(C): 305–308. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaj1947.036159950011000C0057x.
168. McFarland, C. R., D. R. Huggins, and R. T. Koenig. 2015. Soil pH and Implications for Management: An Introduction - Soil acidification series. Washington State University: Pullman, WA. https://wpcdn.web.wsu.edu/wp-ecommerce/uploads/sites/2/product-4169-sku-FS170E.pdf.