Soil chemical characteristics on coffee plantations fertilized with continuous application of compost and green manure

ABSTRACT

Soil characteristics were determined in a coffee plantation after fertilization by five consecutive years with compost and green manure. Compost was applied to provide 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of the recommended N dose for the coffee crop. Each compost dose was applied alone or combined with 3 t ha⁻¹ of sunn hemp (SH). Linear increment of pH, sum of base (cmol_c dm⁻³), base saturation (V%), cation exchange capacity (cmol_c dm⁻³), effective cation exchange capacity (cmol_c dm⁻³), concentration of P, K, Ca and Mg were detected with exclusive compost. Non-linear increments of pH, V%, concentration of P and Ca were obtained with combined fertilization. SH effect was obtained when associated with the dose 25% N. Higher ratio (Ca+Mg)/K was detected with compost 25% N + SH. The continuous and exclusive application of compost at 25% and 50% improves soil chemical characteristics, but at a dose of 100%, causes unbalance of soil characteristics like pH at slightly alkaline levels, high amount of P available and more probability of antagonism between K, Ca and Mg. The application of SH neutralizes the alkalinity of the compost, less antagonism probability between K, Ca and Mg and allows maintaining a better nutrient balance in the soil.

KEYWORDS:

• Crotalaria juncea
• nutrient in soil
• organic matter
• pH
• phosphorus

Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the Federal University of Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.

Declaration of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Federal University of Viçosa [00000].