Crop water requirement and effect of water stress on growth and yield of Coffea arabica L
From 1984 - 86, evaporation rate, crop coefficient and water use efficiency of arabica coffee (c.v. Caturra) were studied using water balance lysimeter type. Total water used in coffee between August 1984 and December 1985 was 1,244.9 mm. Variations of crop coefficient with time corresponded well with the growth stage. Crop coefficient was low in the transplanting stage and increased slowly until the flowering stage and gradually reached the maximum value (1.6) at fruiting stage. At the same time coffee trees were subjected to four watering regimes, and the growth patterns of their aerial parts (in terms of height, stem diameters, canopy width, leaf area) were studied. Trees were also destructively sampled on two occasions. Water stress reduced growth pattern of the aerial parts, both fresh weight and dry weight. Water stress also reduced reproductive growth. After 3 years of experiment, the average of flowers and beans in stress treatments showed lower numbers than the well-watered treatment. In commercial practice it could be recommended that rewatering of coffee trees when the soil dries to 50 percent from FC may show an economical investment. In terms of physiology, stomatal conductance and leaf water potential of each treatment were observed using a continuous flow porometer and pressure chamber from dawn to dusk at intervals throughout the season. The stomata in the dry treatment closed earlier in the day than the stomata in the other treatments. The leaf water potential in the dry treatment also showed a more negative response than in the others. These two parameters can be used as preliminary indicators for the effect of water stress on growth and yield of Coffea arabica L
Main Authors: | , , |
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Format: | biblioteca |
Published: |
Chiang Mai (Tailandia)
1988
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Subjects: | COFFEA ARABICA, CATURRA, NECESIDADES DE AGUA, STRESS, RESISTENCIA ESTOMATICA, PRESION OSMOTICA, RELACIONES PLANTA AGUA, RIEGO, ETAPAS DE DESARROLLO DE LA PLANTA, |
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