Rooting propensity and shade requirements of coffee arabica cultivar Ruiru 11 stem cuttings

Rooting of softwood stem cuttings of Coffea arabica L. cultivar Ruiru 11 is now being used at the Coffee Research Station and a few commercial nurseries to increase the planting material of the hybrid. Two nursery trials, one to determine the rooting ability of stem cuttings from suckers with six nodes and another one to established shade requirements for rooted stem cuttings were set. Stem cuttings from all the six nodes of the suckers were able to root without any application of growth hormones though the recorded average success was less than 50 per cent for most nodes. The number and lengh of roots did not depend on cutting source. Artificial shade requirement for stem cuttings was established but little influence on the rooting of cuttings was observed. A propagator has now a chance to choose cheaper and more easily available materials for the provision of artificial shade.