Soil suitable for coffee arabica

Coffee arabica provides the highly aromatic variety, forming the bulk of the commercial blends of coffee, which is usually grown in moderately high altitudes.

The plant is generally considered to be an upland species and the optimum temperature range is 15-24 °C, photosynthesis being reduce at temperatures above 25 °C. Coffee grows on soils with varying acidity. Slightly acid soils, as present under montane forest in southwestern Ethiopia, are the most suitable.

Since coffee is an evergreen plant, it requires sub-soil water at all time. Thus, deep soils with good water-holding capacity are the most suitable environment for coffee growth.

The average rainfall in most are of cultivation of coffee arabica is 1500-2000 mm although, in East and Central Africa, cultivation is possible with a rainfall as low as 1000 mm providing that irrigation is available.

The soil structure must also allow good drainage because the surface feeding roots need a drier period for part of the year to slow down growth ripen the wood and initiate flower bus. Properly controlled irrigations can increase the yield and bean quality of coffee arabica.
Soil suitable for coffee arabica

Ideal soil for coffee plant

Coffee prefers a deep, porous, friable, well aerated, well-drained soil, rich in organic matter and particularly for robusta variety rich in humus. However, as long as drainage is good and apply sufficient fertilizer, the coffee plants should thrive.

Some of the best coffee lands of Colombia, Central America, Mexico, Java, and Sumatra are found in regions with rich loamy soils of volcanic origin.

Coffee plants need 250 to 300 mm of water a year, equivalent to an annual precipitation of 1500 to 2000 mm. If precipitation is less than this, the plants must be irrigated.

Coffee appears to flourish with a good deal of humus for its root system and it is well for the humus to be developed in the surface layer of the soil.

The ideal soil is old forest soil with a top layer of half decayed leaves, with a gradual transition into mineral soil.

The nutrient requirement of coffee plants is comparatively high, a stand of coffee plants growing vigorously and producing high yields extracts about 135 kg N/ha, 15 kg of P/ha and 120 kg of K/ha from the soil each year.

Most soils are unable to provide an optimum supply of nutrients, so chemical fertilizers are added to ensure that the plants will flourish and bear fruit.
Ideal soil for coffee plant

Coffea Liberica

Coffea Liberica
Coffea liberica is grown chiefly in Malaysia and Guyana.

Although a strong (parasite-resistant) plant, with fruits and seeds almost double the size of the favored arabica, Coffea liberica produces beans of inferior quality.

Thus, liberica beans are grown primarily for local consumption and are seldom exported – although up to decade or so ago, the coffee was appreciated by the Scandinavian countries.

Some Malays steep the leave of Coffea liberica, much as tea is brewed.

Interestingly, the leaves have even more caffeine than the beans.

It is a species characterized by vigorous growth, large, leathery leaves and heavy berries and beans.

Coffea liberica is a lowland species adapted to warm equatorial forests. It has been distributed in the lowland tropics from plants collected and distributed by Kew Gardens in London.

It is an evergreen shrub or tree that can reach 17 m, has dimorphic branching and large leathery leaves.

The large flowers are self sterile and open at irregular interval, rather than in flushes as in the other two cultivated species; it produces larger fruits than the other two species.
It is tolerant of poor soils and thrives best in hot wet conditions.
Coffea Liberica