Development and production of fertigated coffee trees in the west region of Bahia, Brazil

The aim in the present study was to evaluate the effects of different split fertigation and doses on the development and production of drip irrigated coffee in the western region of the state of Bahia, Brazil. The study was performed at the Café do Rio Branco Farm, in Barreiras, BA, Brazil, in adult coffee trees aged approximately 3.5 years from the variety Catuaí IAC 144. A 3 x 3 factorial design was adopted, with three levels of nitrogen and potassium fertilization (900/800, 600/500 and 300/250 kg ha-1 year-1 N and K2O) in three monthly split fertigation (two, four and eight times). Stem and crown growth, productivity, yield and sieve were evaluated. The doses of 600/500 and 900/800 kg ha-1 year-1 N/K2O and the splits in two and eight times provided the highest productivities of coffee. A higher split fertigation was observed on the effect of N and K2O doses in coffee development variables (crown diameter and plant height). There was no effect of split fertigation and doses in the classification by sieves of coffee beans.