Defoliation, premature fruit drop and die-back in coffee due to wet-feet

In Karnataka, India, defoliation, premature fruit drop and die-back occur in coffee crops every year during the south west monsoon. It is prevalent where soil water saturation and waterlogging is a problem. This phenomenon, called wet-feet, is discussed. The physiological effects of waterlogging of coffee roots are explained; a deficiency of O2 due to waterlogging interferes with gibberellin and cytokinin production in the roots, and it also causes a loss of nitrates, leaching of P, decrease of pH, and reduction of sulphate into H2S. Better aeration of sub-soils, renovation of drainage treches and the pre-monsoon application of growth regulators are recommended