Phosphorus fixation in coffee soils

摘要

Coffee is one of the important plantation crops of high economic significance. The coffee soils in India belong to the red and lateritic groups. They are generally low in available phosphorus. Phosphorus (P) management in the coffee soils is still a complicated issue due to acidic soil environment. In acidic soil conditions most of the 'P' is fixed in the form of insoluble aluminum and iron phosphates and reduce the fertilizer use efficiency. The management of soil available 'P' to cope with the nutrient demands of the crops is an exigent task for the soil scientists. Phosphorus is often the most limiting plant nutrient primarily due to the challenges in its management. In coffee, the role of 'P' in inducing good flowering, fruit set, ensuring highand consistent yields is well known. However, Phosphorus is one of the least mobile elements in the soil and fixation of applied 'P' fertilizer to the extent of 90 percent in the coffee soils is observed. This would result in to consistent low coffee yields.