| Abstrakt: |
To assess the impact of Diatomaceous Earth (DE) as a source of silicon on soil physical-chemical properties, yield attributes and clean coffee yield of Arabica coffee cv. Chandragiri, field experiments were conducted during the year 2017-18 and 2018-19 at Central Coffee Research Institute, Karnataka, India. Study revealed that, different doses of DE as soil application and as foliar spray (3 times) significantly increased the soil available silicon status from 38.19 to 41.63 mg kg− 1in 2018, 34.16 to 49.28 mg kg− 1 in 2019 and 36.18 to 46.04 mg kg− 1 on pooled basis and leaf available content from 0.40 to 0.79% in 2018, 0.43 to 0.83% in 2019 and 0.42 to 0.81% on pooled basis, respectively as compared to T1 − 100% RDF (Control). In addition, it enhanced the uptake of major nutrients and reduced the incidence of micronutrient during both the years of study and on pooled basis. Among different treatments, T7 -treatment supplemented with 100% RDF + 200 kg DEha− 1 + 0.5% foliar spray @ 3 times recorded significantly highest clean coffee yield (731 kg ha− 1) which was statistically on par (702 kg ha− 1) with T8- 75% RDF + 200 kg DE ha− 1 + 0.5% foliar spray @ 3 times during both the years of study increase in yield 27.63% as compared to T1- 100% RDF (Control) (529 cc kg ha− 1). The same trend was noticed in coffee beans grades, nutrients status in plants and post-harvest nutrient status in the soil. The impact of DE on pest and disease incidence could not be established either of the seasons, in a convincing manner. The net return and B: C ratio was highest in T7 (1.43) and T8 (1.40) compared with T3 (1.02). The study emphasized that use of silicon in Arabica coffee plantation is an alternative material which can be used for improving soil fertility and supplementary input for improving the production in coffee. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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