Coffee Plantation Management

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Table of Contents
    Table of Contents
      Coffee Plantation Management The Key to Maximum Harvest Success

      1. Fertilization

      Fertilization is an important step in cultivating coffee plants to ensure optimal growth, stable production and high quality results. The following are the benefits and practical guidelines for fertilizing coffee plants:

      a. Benefits of Fertilization

      • Increase Plant Resistance
        Fertilization helps improve plant conditions so that they are more resistant to extreme environmental changes, such as drought or overbearing.
      • Increasing Production and Quality of Results
        Adequate nutrition will encourage plants to produce high quality coffee berries in more optimal quantities.
      • Maintaining Production Stability
        Proper and regular fertilization can maintain the stability of crop yields from year to year.

      b. Coffee Fertilization Guide

      Time to Apply Fertilizer

      • Fertilization is done twice a year, namely at the beginning and end of the rainy season.
      • In areas with high rainfall, fertilization should be done more than twice to prevent loss of fertilizer due to leaching (washing by rainwater).

      Preparation Before Fertilizing

      • Prune plant shade before fertilizing to optimize fertilizer absorption.
      • Clean the grass around the coffee stalks. After the fertilizer is sown, cover it with soil to maintain efficient nutrient absorption.

      Fertilizer Application Techniques

      • Adult Fertilizer: Sprinkle fertilizer in a circle around the trunk at a distance of 30โ€“50 cm from the main trunk, with a depth of 2โ€“5 cm.
      • Seed Fertilizer: Fertilizer is placed in a circular groove at a distance of 75 cm from the tree trunk with the same depth.

      Types and Doses of Fertilizer

      • Organic fertilizer: It is preferred to use compost, manure or composted garden waste. The recommended dose is 10โ€“20 kg per tree per year.
      • Inorganic Fertilizer: The general dosage is adjusted to the needs of the plant and the type of fertilizer used, as presented in the guide table.
      fertilizer for coffee guide
      fertilizer for coffee guide

      2. Pruning Coffee Plants

      pemangkasan tanaman kopi
      coffee pruning

      Coffee pruning is an important technique in coffee cultivation which aims to regulate plant branching to produce optimal and sustainable productive branches. This process not only supports healthy plant growth, but also ensures care and harvest efficiency.

      Here are the main benefits of coffee trimming:

      • Establishing Healthy Plants: Pruning helps regulate plant height, making care and harvest easier.
      • Optimizing Production Branch
        On robusta coffee, pruning is carried out to form new production branches on a regular basis.
        On Arabica coffee, pruning is focused on removing old branches, wild branches, worm branches and unproductive branches.
      • Supports Optimal Growth
        Pruning allows light to enter and improves air circulation within the canopy, thereby creating an environment that supports plant growth.
      • Pest and Disease Control
        By pruning unhealthy branches, the potential for pest and disease attacks can be minimized.
      • Increasing the Consistency of Harvest Results
        Pruning also reduces fluctuations in production and the risk of plant damage due to over-fertilization.

      Pruning Techniques

      a. Single Stem Pruning
      In Indonesia, the coffee pruning system generally applied is a single stem system. This system has several advantages:

      • Plants remain low so they are easy to care for.
      • Allows the continuous formation of new production branches.
      • Makes it easier to control pests and diseases and reduces the risk of death from them overbearing dieback.
      • Reduces the impact of drought and sharp fluctuations in crop yields.

      b. Shape Cropping

      This technique is used to form the ideal coffee plant framework:

      • In plants up to 1 meter high, the main stem is cut, and three primary branches are circumcised at a height of 80โ€“100 cm (Stage I).
      • New branches that grow on primary branches are selected selectively, temporarily Wiwili (water shoots) are removed.
      • After Stage I completed, new branches are maintained at a height of 120โ€“140 cm to form Stages II, and so on until Stage 3 (160โ€“180 cm).
      • The final result resembles the shape of the Mercedes-Benz logo when viewed from above.

      c. Maintenance Pruning

      Aims to maintain the balance of the plant’s skeleton by removing unproductive branches, such as:

      • Old branches that have borne fruit 2-3 times.
      • Back branches, wild branches, wormy branches, damaged branches, or branches that are attacked by pests and diseases.
      • B3 branches (fruit three times) can be maintained selectively to support productivity.

      3. Shade Tree Management

      pengelolaan pohon penaung untuk kopi
      shade plant for coffee management

      a. Purpose of Tree Pruning on Coffee Plants

      Pruning shade trees has an important role in the sustainable management of coffee plantations. This process aims to maintain a balanced environment for growing coffee plants and provides the following benefits:

      • Protects Plants from Excessive Humid Conditions
        Pruning helps regulate the intensity of sunlight entering the garden, thereby reducing excess moisture which can trigger pest and disease attacks on coffee plants.
      • Reduces Humus Loss
        By controlling the canopy of shade trees, soil erosion can be minimized, so that the humus layer which is important for soil fertility is maintained.
      • Avoiding shoot death due to overproduction
        Pruning functions to manage plant growth and prevent overproduction which can cause stress to coffee plants, including shoot death.

      Apart from direct benefits for plants, the results of pruning also have added value. Pruned twigs and leaves can be used as organic material for making compost, thereby supporting more environmentally friendly and efficient agricultural practices.

      b. Things that should be observed in the pruning of patron trees:

      Pruning the canopy is an important step in maintaining the balance of light, humidity, and the health of the plants underneath. In order for the results to be optimal, here are the things that need to be observed:

      1. Pruning Time
        Pruning the umbrella should be done at the beginning of the rainy season. At this time, the main plant will get enough sunlight to support its growth without being disturbed by a canopy that is too thick.
      2. Pruning Level
        For patrons aged 3โ€“4 years, the brightness of the title is reduced by about 50%.
        After that, the canopy is maintained at a shade level of around 50% every year to ensure sufficient lighting without reducing the protection of the main plants.
      3. Patronus Leaf Squeeze
        The removal of umbrella leaves or sprempesan is done at the beginning of the dry season. This step helps reduce excess moisture that can trigger pest and disease attacks, while ensuring good air circulation around the plant.

      With scheduled and guided shade pruning, you can create an optimal growing environment for your main plants while maintaining land efficiency.

      c. Management of Temporary Patrons

      Temporary shelters play an important role in the early stages of coffee growth. Management involves:

      • Patron Density Reduction
        At the beginning of the rainy season, temporary shade plants such as Moghania, Tephrosia sp., and Crotalaria sp. degreased to reduce crowding. This aims to increase light penetration and air circulation around the coffee plants.
      • Utilization of RemMessage Results
        The results of the rempesan are used to protect the soil by placing them around plant stems or putting them in rorak to add organic material.
      • Moghania Crop Management
        Moghania can be maintained as a terrace reinforcement until the coffee plants are four years old. After that, these plants can be pruned or pruned periodically every four months to maintain the function of the terrace.
      • Life Cycle of Tephrosia sp. and Crotalaria sp.
        Both of these plants have a short life cycle, usually dying by themselves after two years of age.

      d. Permanent Patron Management

      The management of permanent patrons aims to optimally support the growth of  coffee. The steps taken are:

      • Branching Settings
        The lower branches of the shade, including the productive types, are pruned to a height of 1-2 meters above the coffee tree. This improves air flow and lighting. Regular pruning of lower branches accelerates growth to the desired height.
      • Systematic Thinning
        When the coffee trees grow densely and cover each other, thinning the shade is carried out gradually. The shade population is maintained at 400-600 trees per hectare, adapting to local environmental conditions.
      • Management of Penung Lamtoro
        At the beginning of the rainy season, around 50% of the lamtoro is cut to a height of 3 meters alternately every year. This technique is done alternately or in a row. During the rainy season, overgrown branches and twigs are also crushed to stimulate coffee flowering.

      Good shade management not only supports the growth of coffee plants, but also helps maintain the environmental sustainability of plantations through soil conservation and increasing long-term productivity.

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