Coffee Basics- Pests Disease Nutrition

7/30/2019 Coffee Basics- Pests Disease Nutrition

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Coffee Growing Basics:

Fertilizer, Disease, Insects

HC Skip Bittenbender

Extension SpecialistCTAHR/UH


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Problems?Who to call first? Our UH/CTAHR Extension Agents!

Virginia Easton Smith, W. Hawaii - 322-4892

Mel Nishina, E. Hawaii - 959-9155Richard Ebesu, Kauai - 274-3471

Jan McEwen, Maui - 244-3242

Alton Arakaki, Molokai - 567-6934HC Skip Bittenbender, specialist - 956-6043

Kent Fleming, economist - 989-3416

Scot Nelson, pathologist - 322-4892


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NutritionA tree that does not drop its old leaves before

harvest is your goal.

If both the old leaves and new leaves are goneat harvest or worst -before harvest, then

youve lost quality- beans maybe smaller

(lower grade), less dense - poorer cup,

ripened too early or died.


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Nutritional status of coffee and

coffee growing soils in Hawaii

State-wide survey of nutrient conditions in coffeegrowing areas by NV Hue.

Low calcium (Ca) and zinc (Zn), and sometimes highmanganese (Mn) and /or aluminum (Al) are commonfactors limiting coffee growth and production.

Experiments confirmed that Ca and Zn added as soilamendment and/or foliar spray increase coffeeseedling growth.


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Nutritional survey results


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Not too much, not too little

Too much nitrogen (N) or potassium (K)in the plant will reduce cup quality.

Too much calcium (Ca) or phosphorus(P) imparts a bitter and hard taste.

Yield may not be reduced immediately.Too much manganese reduces yield.

Too little of anything reduces yield.


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How to know whats enough or

not enough?

Ask you neighbor ?

Ask a fertilizer dealer?

Ask Virginia, or any CTAHR coffee scientist?Get soil and tissue tests- doesnt matter if you use

inorganic or organic fertilizer.


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Soil & tissue test are done by CTAHRs ADSC orprivate company.

Get annual tissue (leaf) tests.

Leaf analysis at CTAHR is $20, (2 tests- N, the rest).

Get soil test before planting and every 5 years.

$10 (2 tests -pH, major nutrients)Tissue costs more AND it gives you more information.

Contact your CTAHR extension agent to drop off

samples.


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Leaf nutrient targets

< 120 ppmAlAluminum

< 200 ppmMnManganese> 15 ppmZnZinc

31 to 50 ppmBBoron43 to 60 ppmFeIron

1.2 to 1.5 %CaCalcium

1.9 to 2.5 %KPotassium

0.14 to 0.17 %PPhosphorus

2.6 to 3.0 %NNitrogen


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Collecting leaves for analysis

Sample 20 most recently expanded leaves from 20 different

trees, take from the middle laterals after flowering and

before cherry is growing rapidly, not during drought.Annual tissue analysis AND follow recommendation.

Keep records of analysis results, fertilization and yields for

each field.


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Soil nutrient targets

> 5 ppmZinc

> 20 ppmPhosphorus

> 1200 ppmCalcium

6.0 to 6.5pH

ppm is same as mg/ kg of dry soil


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Collecting soil for analysisCollect before planting

Collect every five yearsTake sample 0-8 deep at the drip line of the

trees.

Walk a zigzag path through 1-5 acres.

At each stop take 1/4 lb of soil, make 10 to 20

stops.Mix well send in 1-2 lbs for analysis.


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Nutrient deficiency symptoms

Nitrogen (N) deficiency

Upper lateral OK

Lower is deficient

By the time you see symptoms,the tree will already have a lower

yield, so dont wait to see symptoms,

do a tissue analysis.


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Zinc (Zn) deficiencyPotassium (K) deficiency

Brown leaf

margins are also

signs of wind

damage

Narrow, strap-like leaves,

most commonly seen afterstumping


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Overbearing dieback Both old and

new leavesdropped.

Lateral beginsdying from tipto vertical.

Coffee ripenstoo early ordies.

Most frequent cause lack of

nitrogen but anything that

causes leaf loss- drought,wind, twig borer- can start

the process.


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Causes of overbearing diebackInsufficient sugars produced by leaves to grow the

cherry, so the cherry eats the leaves !Drought or wind removing leaves between flowering

and full size fruit reduces leaf production.

Nutrient deficiency especially N reduces the sugarproduction of the leaves even as late as cherryripening.

Root damage from low pH, j root, or nematodereduces nutrients and/or water in leaves.

Scale and black twig borer damage leaves.


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Fertilization

Apply fertilizer 6 inches from trunk to tip of laterals

Bearing trees with conventional 10 N: 5 P: 20 Kfertilizer start at 2000 lb/yr/acre split between

Feb, April, June, November

plus 100 lb urea in August.Fertigation use soluble fertilizer start 25 lb N, 10 lb

P, 40 lb K /month/acre Feb to Oct, December


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PestsWeeds

InsectsGreen Scale and the ants that nurse them

Black Twig Borer

Banana Moth

Nematodes and Disease

Kona Coffee Root knot NematodeLeaf spot and Coffee berry blotch


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PestsWeedsWeed control is essential the first year

Control by cutting, plastic mulches herbicides -RoundUp,Goal, Fusilade, Gramoxone (restricted to licensed

applicator) even geese

In mature fields tall grass, trees, vines, and volunteercoffee seedlings can be serious


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PestsInsects: Green Scale and the ants that nurse them

Most serious insect especially first 2 years, sucks sap

from leaves, black mold grows on honey-dew.

Arrived in late 1890s. White halo fungus introduced 1910,

kills scale in rainy season in Kona.

Control soaps & oils.

Ant bait stations.


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.and the Ants that nurse scaleGenerally sufficient parasites

and predators of scale thatif ants are controlled thescale will be controlled.

Amdro used in bait stations

will control Big headedant. Max 1.5 lb /A followlabel.

May be necessary to baitinside orchard first, thenbait the borders should besufficient.


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.and the Ants that nurse scaleAnt trapping can work, too !

Trunk wrapped tightly with gauze,then plastic film, then TreeTanglefoot, a sticky paste isspread on plastic. DO NOT PUT

PASTE ON BARK.Ants become caught on paste.

All other ant routes to coffee leavesmust be blocked, no trees

touching, no ground coverstouching coffee leaves.


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.and the predators and disease

that kill scale

Mealybug destroyer looks

like a mealy but moves and

eats scale

Scale killed by White Halo fungus


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Insects: Black Twig Borer

Prune flagging laterals below the

hole, burn, shred, or compost thelaterals. Fruit beyond the hole die

or ripen prematurely.

Less serious, arrive

1960s, beetle killsbranch


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Insects: Banana Moth

Primarily a problem on new verticals when using BF pruning.Symptoms wilting new growth, frass on trunk.

Control: Remove or shred prunings and thinnings.

If necessary spray new verticals and stump with Bt (Dipel).


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PestsNematodes

Kona Coffee Root knot Nematode


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Adequate nutrient level

in soil

Deficiencies &

excesses

Water and nutrient uptake

affected

The nematodes are robbing

nutrients from the roots to feed

themselves, plus root damage

prevents normal nutrient

uptake.


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Kona Coffee Nematodes

Prevention and ControlPrevention - if you buy plants from

Kona demand no pula pula or soil.

Buy seedlings from picked coffeeand grown in sterilized soil orsoilless mix.

Control - If this nematode is present,fallow land for one year, keepplanting rows weed free or covercrop with non-nematode host like

Sun Hemp, plant grafted seedlingsKona typica on Fukunaga.


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PestsDisease: Berry blotch and Cercospora leaf spot

Occasional problem as affected cherries dont pulp

easily. Trees with poor nutrition are most

susceptible.


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Need more info

Growing Coffee in Hawaii, order fromCTAHR webpage click on

Publications or Read it on the web at

Search for Farmers Bookshelf

Select Fruit then Coffee

Coffee by Jean N. WintgensOn Amazon, $292 and up

Sections on organic and

sustainable production

Coffee Basics- Pests Disease Nutrition

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