SCALCO, Myriane Stella.; COLOMBO, Alberto.; MENDES, Rubens de Brito.; PEDROSO, Thiago Queiróz.; GUIMARÃES, Rubens José.
Abstract:
The objective of this work was to study, at two different planting densities and during the
first three harvests, coffee yield response to irrigation performed at different soil tension levels. The
experiment was carried out at the Universidade Federal de Lavras/MG. Coffee plant (cv.“Rubi” - MG-
1192) was planted in 01/03/01. Five irrigation treatments were evaluated:(i) not irrigated and irrigated
when soil water tension, at 25 cm depth, reaches (ii) 20, (iii) 60kPa, (iv) 100(v) and 140kPa (vi). For the
20 and 60kPa treatments tension was controlled with tensiometers, in other treatments were controlled
with Water Mark-Irrometer soil moisture sensors. Two planting densities were used: (i) 2500 (4.0x1.0m)
and (ii) 10000 (2.0x0.5m)plants/ha. During the first three years, it was observed increased coffee yields
(60kg bags/ha) with the increased irrigation depths required to keep the lower soil tension levels. For the
2500 and the 10000 plants/ha densities, the highest coffee yield were achieved with the 20kPa tension:
50 bags/ha, with a 170.0mm irrigation depth, and 102 bags/ha with 232.4mm, respectively. During this
period, lower coffee yield fluctuations were observed with the 10000 plants/ha.
