Evaluation of field performance of compact coffee variety under selected propagation methods and soil fertility amendment practices in the Northern Zone, Tanzania

Abstract

This study compares the field performance of three types of seedlings propagules (cuttings, grafting and seed) when combined with 75 g NPK (20:10:10) tree -1 , 37.5 g NPK + (10 and 20 Kg Farmyard manure) tree -1 . Two split plot experiments laid out in a Randomized Complete Block design (RCBD) with three replications were established at Lyamungu-Kilimanjaro region and Burka-Arusha region based on the existing climatic gradient. Such data as, soil organic carbon, soil texture, growth characteristics and coffee yield were collected in the period from 2019 to 2022. Cuttings-propagated plants outperformed seed and grafted-counterparts in all aspects (p < 0.05). This could be due to the greater physiological maturity of cutting propagated plants, causing earlier production capability. Cuttings propagated plants had the highest yield 2800 and 3600 Kg ha -1 green coffee at Burka and Lyamungu sites, respectively. The grafted propagated plants had the lowest green coffee yield of 800 and 1700 Kg ha -1 at Burka and Lyamungu sites, respectively. Therefore, it can be concluded that cuttings propagated plants under the age of 4 years with the same rooting age as seed and grafted plants perform better in the field than seeds and grafted plants.