CHAPTER 5: Mineral Nutrition and Fertilization

This chapter presents updated information about the mineral nutrition of coffee plants, providing a theoretical reference from studies performed in Brazil to optimize fertilization practices. We discuss the effects of macronutrients, micronutrients, beneficial elements, and toxic elements on the growth and production of coffee plants as well as their impact on the quality of the resulting coffee beans. We give information on the accumulation of these elements in different parts of the coffee tree, including the amounts present in the harvested beans. Since the coffee beans are exported out of the farm, the nutrients they take with them must somehow be returned to the soil for the plant to maintain the necessary fertility for future coffee production. Special attention is given to concepts and applications regarding the diagnosis of a plant's nutritional status by means of visual symptoms and tissue analysis. Examples of visual symptoms of mineral deficiencies and toxicities are provided, as well as tables of critical ranges of nutrients and DRIS indexes. We also discuss the physical and chemical properties of the soil in relation to the needs of the coffee plant, as well as liming, gypsum use, and fertilization for coffee plants cultivated in tropical soils.