The document discusses fertilizer management for coffee production, including the types of fertilizers, identifying annual fertilizer needs based on tree age and yield, application methods and timing for chemical and organic fertilizers, improving fertilizer efficiency, which fertilizers can be mixed, and symptoms of nutrient deficiencies. It provides guidance on applying the appropriate amounts of nitrogen, phosphate, potassium, and other nutrients to maximize coffee growth, yield, and quality.

1. Part III: Fertilizer management
3.1. Why do we have to apply fertilizer?
3.2. Types of fertilizers
3.3. How to identify fertilizer amount annually?
3.4. The needs and time to apply chemical
fertilizer
3.5. The needs and time to apply organic
fertilizer
3.6. How to apply fertilizer?
3.7. Improve fertilizer efficiency
3.8. What kinds of fertilizers can be mixed?
3.9. Coffee nutrient deficiency symptoms
3.10. Questions and exercises
1

2. 3.1. Why do we have to apply fertilizer?
Growth
Product
2

3. 3.2. Types of fertilizers
Organic fertilizer
• Coffee leaves and branches cut through
prunings.
• Manure (from buffaloes, cows, pigs,
chickens…).
• Organic compost.
Advantages of organic fertilizers
• They have all nutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg,…)
• Coffee leaves and branches cut through
pruning can be used for producing fertilizer.
• Chemical fertilizer application decreased.
• Make the soil more fertile.
• Soil can remains more nutrients and water.
• Good for soil erosion control.
3

4. 3.2. Types of fertilizers (cont.)
Chemical fertilizer
• Single fertilizer (there is only one main
kind of nutrient in the bag)
For example: KCl, Urea, SA, …
Fused Phosphate
• Mixed fertilizer (the fertilizer is
colorful)
For example: NPK 16:8:16
Đầu trâu (buffalo head logo)
NPK
4

5. 3.2. Types of fertilizers (cont.)
Percentage of pure fertilizer in finished fertilizer
Name
N P2 O5 K2O CaO MgO S
Urea 46 - - - - -
SA 21 - - - - 23
Fused phosphate - 14 - 16 - 28 - 30 18 -
Super phosphate - 15 - 18 - - - 13
KCl - - 60 - - -
NPK (16:16:8) 16 16 8 - - -
NPK (15:5:15) 15 5 15 - - -
NPK (16:8:16) 16 8 16 - - -
NPK (16:8:14:13S) 16 8 14 - - 13
NPK (14:7:14) 14 7 14 - - -
For example: There is 46 kg of pure N in 100 kg of Urea
5

6. 3.3. How to identify fertilizer amount annually?
Inorganic
fertilizer Tree age
Product
Fertilizer is lost due to
evaporation
Tree
uptakes
Input
The soil is fertile
or not, basin is
prepared or not?
Organic Fertilizer is lost because of permeating deeply
fertilizer or being swept away
6

7. 3.3. How to identify fertilizer amount annually?
Nutrient uptake of a coffee trees
1 tons of dried coffee berries (moisture: 13%, Sản phẩm
percentage of beans: 60%) obtained: Product
52 kg of Urea
27 kg of fused phosphate
43 kg of KCl
When applying fertilizer:
• A coffee tree can only obtain 30-40 kg of Urea out of 100kg
• A coffee tree can only obtain 30-40 kg of Phosphate out of 100kg
• A coffee tree can only obtain 40-45 kg of Potassium out of 100kg
Therefore: The fertilizer amount should be applied 2-3 times the
fertilizer amount the coffee beans could obtain to meet the fertilizer
needs of the coffee trees
7

8. 3.4. The needs and time to apply chemical fertilizer
The amount of SA, Urea, Văn điển Phosphate, KCl
Applied for 1.000m2 of coffee per year
Văn
Coffee age điển
SA Urea KCl
Phosp
hate
Year 1 (new planting) - 13 40 5
Year 2 (or stumping for rejuvenation in
year 1) 8 50 17
Year 3 (or stumping for rejuvenation in year
2) 10 28 60 28
From year 4 onwards (3.5 - 4 tons of coffee
beans) 20 52 70 50
Note: If coffee production is increased or decreased 100kg of coffee
beans/1000m2, apply more or less than 15kg of urea + 10 kg of Văn Điển
phosphate + 13 kg of KCl
8

9. 3.4. The needs and time to apply chemical fertilizer (cont.)
Apply chemical fertilizers for the coffee
(The fertilizer amounts for 1.000m2)
 Coffee in the year 1:
Apply 4 kg of urea + 40kg of Văn điển phosphate + 15kg of KCl in May or June
Apply 5 kg of urea + 1.5kg of KCl in July or August
Apply 4 kg of urea + 2kg of KCl in September or October
Coffee in the year 2(or stumping for rejuvenation in year 1):
Apply 8 kg of S.A in the 2nd irrigation
Apply 8 kg of urea + 25kg of Văn điển phosphate + 5kg of KCl in May or June
Apply 8 kg of urea + 25kg Văn điển phosphate + 6kg of KCl in July or August
Apply 6 kg of urea + 6kg of KCl in September or October
9

10. 3.4. The needs and time to apply chemical fertilizer (cont.)
Apply chemical fertilizers for the coffee
(The fertilizer amounts for 1.000m2)
Coffee in year 3 (or stumping for rejuvenation in year 2):
Apply 10 kg of S.A in the 2nd irrigation
Apply 10 kg of urea + 30kg of Văn điển phosphate + 8kg of KCl in May or June
Apply 10 kg of urea + 30kg of Văn điển phosphate + 10kg of KCl in July or August
Apply 8 kg of urea + 10kg of KCl in September or October
Coffee from year 4 onward (or stumping for rejuvenation in year 3):
Apply 20 kg of S.A in 2nd irrigation
Apply 18 kg of urea + 35kg of Văn điển phosphate + 15kg of KCl in May or June
Apply 18 kg of urea + 35kg of Văn điển phosphate + 17kg of KCl in July or August
Apply 16 kg of urea + 18kg of KCl in September or October
10

11. 3.4. The needs and time to apply chemical fertilizer (cont.)
Apply NPK for productive coffee
Apply NPK for the coffee if not using urea, phosphate and
potassium:
Coffee from year 4 onward (or stumping for rejuvenation in year
3):
Apply 20 kg of S.A in the 2nd irrigation
Apply 60 kg of NPK (16.8.16) in May or June
Apply 70 kg of NPK (16.8.16) in July or August
Apply 60 kg of NPK (16.8.16) in September or October
Note: If coffee production is increased or decreased 100kg of coffee
beans/1000m2, apply more or less than 15kg of NPK
11

12. 3.5. The needs and time to apply organic fertilizer
- Apply 5 - 7 kg of decomposed manure per tree for newly-planted coffee
- In the next years, apply 8 - 9 kg of decomposed manure per tree in every
2 years
- Apply 1.5 - 2 kg of organic compost per tree if there is no decomposed
manure
- Coffee branches, leaves, weed and litter should be berried to be
disintegrated as humus for the soil
Note: - Manure and coffee husks must be decomposed before application.
- If manure is applied, no need to apply compost
12

13. 3.6. How to apply fertilizer?
Apply fertilizer when planting coffee
• Mix phosphate and manure for
basal application.
• Apply Urea and KCl for top
dressing.
* How to apply
• Make a ditch 15-20 cm from the tree
• Apply mixed fertilizer 3 - 5 cm deep
• Cover soil after application.
13

14. 3.6. How to apply fertilizer? (cont.)
Apply chemical fertilizer
(from the year 2 onward)
• Spread fertilizer to the basin in a
circle or on the edge of the basin
• Mix the fertilizer with top soil
• Cover with soil if it does not rain
• Mix N & K and apply on the
ground after doing the weeding.
• Apply phosphate separately
14

15. 3.6. How to apply fertilizer? (cont.)
Organic fertilizer
• Make the ditch in the edge of the
canopy.
+ Size: 0.3 – 0.4 m deep.
0.3 m wide.
1.0 – 1.5 m long.
• Apply organic matters and phosphate
in the ditches.
• Cover the soil.
• Manure must be decomposed to avoid
attack by ants.
15

16. 3.7. Improve fertilizer application effect
20kg of S.A, 50kg of Urea, 70kg of
phosphate and 50kg of potassium can
be saved if the following things can be
done:
Cut suckers and deficient branches.
 Cover soil after application to avoid
the evaporation of fertilizer.
 Intercrop with leguminous plants,
wind-beak and shade trees such as
acacia, …
 Make use of organic matters in the
plantation (berried dry branches,
leaves, weed… ) to apply for the soil.
16

17. 3.8. What kinds of fertilizers can be mixed?
The fertilizers can be mixed up
 SA fertilizer can be mixed with: Urea, DAP and KCl
 Urea can be mixed with: SA, super phosphate, DAP
 Super phosphate can be mixed with: Urea, manure
 Văn Điển phosphate can be mixed with: Lime, ash, manure
 DAP can be mixed with: SA, Urea, KCl
 Potassium KCl can be mixed with: SA, DAP, manure
 Manure can be mixed with: Văn điển phosphate, super phosphate, potassium KCl
17

18. 3.8. What kinds of fertilizers can be mixed (cont.)
Fertilizers can be mixed but has to be applied immediately
 SA fertilizer can be mixed with: Super phosphate, Văn điển phosphate,
manure
 Urea can be mixed with: Văn điển phosphate, kali KCl, manure
 Super phosphate can be mixed with: Văn điển phosphate, DAP
 Văn điển phosphate can be mixed with: SA, urea, super phosphate, KCl
 DAP can be mixed with: super phosphate
 Potassium KCl can be mixed with: super phosphate and Văn điển
phosphate
 Manure can be mixed with: SA and urea
18

19. 3.9. Coffee nutrient deficiency symptoms (macro-element)
Deficiency of nitrogen (N) Function of N
• Make the leave green and healthy
• Facilitate the growth of leaves and buds
• Increase the number of berries/branch
Deficiency of N
• Easy to recognize in the young organs in the
trees
• Leaves become light yellow and leave blades
are thin.
• Old leaves turn to yellow  drop (often in
the fruitful branches)
• Yellow leaves near the stem, then the others
become yellow.
• Yellow leaves in the lower layer, then yellow
leaves in upper layer.
• Slow development of leaves and branches,
the tree may die (if serious deficiency)
19

20. 3.9. Coffee nutrient deficiency symptoms (macro-element) (cont.)
Deficiency of phosphate (P) Function of P
• Forming of flowers and fruits
• Improve bean quality
• Improve the growth and root nutrient uptake
• Make branches and leaves healthy
• Limit pest and disease
Phosphate deficiency
• Root growth decreased
• Weak in forming timber
• On fruitful branches, old leaves become light
yellow  dark red ( in leave tip)
•Leaves become dry, hard and drop
20

21. 3.9. Coffee nutrient deficiency symptoms (macro-element) (cont.)
Deficiency of Function of K
Potassium (K) • Improve nutrient circulation
• Improve fruit setting
• Decrease defective fruits (one bean fruit)
• Increase quality and bulk-density
• Improve the disease and drought resistance
Deficiency of K
• Yellow on the mature leaf margins and leaf
ends are yellow streaks  dark brown.
• Mottled leaves, leave edges curl and wither
from the leaf tip to leaf margins and along the
main veins.
• Not much present in young leaves
• Leaves and fruits drop, dry branches
(serious potassium deficiency)
21

22. 3.9. Coffee nutrient deficiency symptoms (meso-element)
Deficiency of Calcium (Ca) Function of Ca
• Essential for rôt development
• Essential for forming tissues
• Detoxify for the tree
Deficiency of Calcium
• Leaves turn to yellow  from edge to
inside leaves
• Along the mains veins are dark green
• Leaf tips curl inwards
• The shoots are underdeveloped.
Source: www.fao.org
22

23. 3.9. Coffee nutrient deficiency symptoms (meso-element) cont.)
Deficiency of Magnesium (Mg)
Function of Mg
• Make tree greener
• Green = healthy
• Generate energy
Deficiency of Mg
• Appear when Ca is redundant.
• Leave blades are blackish green,
Source: www.fao.org becoming olive green streaks  fade
yellow.
• The main veins turn to yellow from middle
to leaf margins.
• Olive color copper, the leaf veins
remain green normally (serious deficiency)
• Fishbone structure
23

24. 3.9. Coffee nutrient deficiency symptoms (meso-element) cont.)
Deficiency of Sulphur (S) Function of S
• Essential to make tree greener
• Green = healthy
• Generate energy
• Respiration
Deficiency of S
• Young leaves and the stem segment near
the tip are whitish yellow.
• Thin leaves, leaf veins and blades are
yellow.
• Leave edges cupped downward (easy to
be torn).
• The whole plant is whitish yellow
(seriously deficiency)
24

25. 3.9. Coffee nutrient deficiency symptoms (micro-element)
Deficiency of Iron (Fe)
Function of Fe
• Essential to make tree greener
• Green = healthy
Deficiency of Fe
Trong vườn • Initial sign is the appearance white or
yellow spots in the veins of young
ươm leaves
• Leaves appear withered spots.
Source: www.fao.org
25

26. 3.9. Coffee nutrient deficiency symptoms (micro-element) (cont.)
Deficiency of Zinc (Zn)
Function of Zn
• Essential for tree metabolism
Deficiency of Zn
• Leaves distorted and narrow
• Leaves curl and are knife-shaped
• All the leaves are yellow or yellow striped
along the main veins
• Buds and tip growth are underdeveloped
• Short internodes
26

27. 3.9. Coffee nutrient deficiency symptoms (micro-element) (cont.)
Deficiency of manganese (Mn)
Function of Mn
• Essential to make the tree verdant
• Green = Healthy
• Create an energy source
• Respiration
Deficiency of Mn
• Tree stunted growth
• Leaf fall
• Withered
Source:
www.fao.org
27

28. 3.9. Coffee nutrient deficiency symptoms (micro-element) (cont.)
Deficiency of Boron (B)
Source: Function of B
www.fao.org • Essential for tree metabolism
Deficiency of Bo
• The shoot stumps are withered
• Leaves develop abnormally.
• Upper leave part is olive green and green-
yellow
28

29. 3.10. Questions and exercises
1. In order to produce 3.5 - 4 tons of coffee bean/ha, how much
fertilizer is needed for the coffee tree?
2. How to reduce the risk of low production for the next crop?
3. 3 nutrient elements and their functions?
4. How to know the tree have sulphur, zinc and potassium
deficiency?
5. When does the coffee tree need phosphate and why?
6. State the importance of timely fertilizer application.
7. What kinds of organic fertilizers? What are their advantages
and what is the best technique to apply organic fertilizer?
8. Data given: the coffee plantation is 3 years old, production of
3 tons of coffee beans/ha, how much SA, KCl, Urea & Văn
điển phosphate to be bought for 1 year?
9. How to improve the fertilizer efficiency?
29