The effect of soil compaction levels on germination and biometric characteristics of coffee (Coffee arabica, L) seedlings in the nursery

In nursery coffee seedling production, farmers often subject potted soil media to casual compaction without considering the effects of such practices on the physical properties of growing media, which significantly influence seedling emergence and biomass characteristics. A 32-week study was carried...

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Main Authors: Masaka, Johnson, Khumbula, N.
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: International Journal of Agricultural Research 2021
Subjects:
Online Access:https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=ijar.2007.581.589
http://hdl.handle.net/11408/4197
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author Masaka, Johnson
Khumbula, N.
author_facet Masaka, Johnson
Khumbula, N.
author_sort Masaka, Johnson
collection DSpace
description In nursery coffee seedling production, farmers often subject potted soil media to casual compaction without considering the effects of such practices on the physical properties of growing media, which significantly influence seedling emergence and biomass characteristics. A 32-week study was carried out at Chipinge Coffee Research Station (20°13’ S; 32°36’ E, elev. >1500 m above sea level), Zimbabwe. The main objective of the study was to determine the effect of different compaction levels in the nursery on the emergence and biometric characteristics of coffee. The first seedling emergence counts in the 5th week after sowing showed that seemingly insignificant bulk density increases of 5.7% (6.6 g cm-3) and 37.5% (43.28 g cm-3) in T2 and T3 potted soils above no-compaction levels triggered uncorrespondingly massive reductions of 75 and 90% in coffee seed germination, respectively. The no-compaction seedlings were 30.33 and 56.27 mm taller than those in the semi and full soil compaction pots respectively in the 21st week after sowing. No-compactioncoffee seedlings recorded 0.689-0.911 mm thicker stems than those observed in semi and full compaction pots. Semi compaction simulations reduced root mass per plant by a modest 1.88 g while full compaction in potted soil media dwarfed root biomass by a massive 5.34 g.
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spelling ir-11408-41972022-06-27T13:49:06Z The effect of soil compaction levels on germination and biometric characteristics of coffee (Coffee arabica, L) seedlings in the nursery Masaka, Johnson Khumbula, N. Coffee seedling emergence Media compaction Biomass In nursery coffee seedling production, farmers often subject potted soil media to casual compaction without considering the effects of such practices on the physical properties of growing media, which significantly influence seedling emergence and biomass characteristics. A 32-week study was carried out at Chipinge Coffee Research Station (20°13’ S; 32°36’ E, elev. >1500 m above sea level), Zimbabwe. The main objective of the study was to determine the effect of different compaction levels in the nursery on the emergence and biometric characteristics of coffee. The first seedling emergence counts in the 5th week after sowing showed that seemingly insignificant bulk density increases of 5.7% (6.6 g cm-3) and 37.5% (43.28 g cm-3) in T2 and T3 potted soils above no-compaction levels triggered uncorrespondingly massive reductions of 75 and 90% in coffee seed germination, respectively. The no-compaction seedlings were 30.33 and 56.27 mm taller than those in the semi and full soil compaction pots respectively in the 21st week after sowing. No-compactioncoffee seedlings recorded 0.689-0.911 mm thicker stems than those observed in semi and full compaction pots. Semi compaction simulations reduced root mass per plant by a modest 1.88 g while full compaction in potted soil media dwarfed root biomass by a massive 5.34 g. 2021-05-18T12:33:09Z 2021-05-18T12:33:09Z 2007 Article 2152-2553 1816-4897 https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=ijar.2007.581.589 http://hdl.handle.net/11408/4197 en International Journal of Agricultural Research;Vol. 2; No. 7: p. 581-589 open International Journal of Agricultural Research
spellingShingle Coffee seedling emergence
Media compaction
Biomass
Masaka, Johnson
Khumbula, N.
The effect of soil compaction levels on germination and biometric characteristics of coffee (Coffee arabica, L) seedlings in the nursery
title The effect of soil compaction levels on germination and biometric characteristics of coffee (Coffee arabica, L) seedlings in the nursery
title_full The effect of soil compaction levels on germination and biometric characteristics of coffee (Coffee arabica, L) seedlings in the nursery
title_fullStr The effect of soil compaction levels on germination and biometric characteristics of coffee (Coffee arabica, L) seedlings in the nursery
title_full_unstemmed The effect of soil compaction levels on germination and biometric characteristics of coffee (Coffee arabica, L) seedlings in the nursery
title_short The effect of soil compaction levels on germination and biometric characteristics of coffee (Coffee arabica, L) seedlings in the nursery
title_sort effect of soil compaction levels on germination and biometric characteristics of coffee (coffee arabica, l) seedlings in the nursery
topic Coffee seedling emergence
Media compaction
Biomass
url https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=ijar.2007.581.589
http://hdl.handle.net/11408/4197
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