The growth response of coffee (Coffea arabica L) plants to organic manure, inorganic fertilizers and integrated soil fertility management under different irrigation water supply levels

A study was carried out to determine the effectsof organic, inorganic fertilizers and integrated soil fertilitymanagement and irrigation levels (1,000, 750 and 500 mlper planting station) on coffee growth. There were nosignificant differences (p[0.05) in girth, number of leavesand number of primaries due to the different soil fertilitymanagement options. Significant differences (p.05)due to soil nutrient sources were observed in coffee heightwhere inorganic fertilizer treatment resulted in tallest coffeeplants (47.4 cm) and integrated soil fertility having theshortest coffee trees (42.8 cm) after 1 year. The highestirrigation level of 1,000 ml had the tallest plants withthickest stems while the lowest level had the shortest andthinnest plants (p.05). No significant differences wereobserved in the number of leaves and number of primariesdue to irrigation treatments. Results indicate that inorganicfertilizers are the most effective at high irrigation levelswhile organic manure performs better than inorganic fertilizersunder low irrigation water levels.