Yield increase attributed mainly to larger beans size
|
Crop/cultivar |
Coffee/ Arabica |
|---|---|
| Country / location | Kenya / five estates around Thika |
| Objectives | Increase bean yield |
| Haifa product tested | Haifa Bonus 13-2-44 |
| Application method | Foliar nutrition |
| Tested treatment | 3 x 2% foliar @ 1,000 lit./ha in June-Aug. (final stages of fruit growth) |
| Control treatment results | 2.2 MT/ha of green beans. Grower’s revenue from yield: 2,450 US$/MT |
| Best treatment results | 2.38 MT/ha of green beans. Grower’s revenue from yield: 2,613 US$/MT |
| Characteristics of best treatment | Yield increase: 8% yield increase over the control, achieved in the best-maintained estate. Mean increase for all estates was 6%. Yield increase was consistently the result of increase in bean size. Bean differential prices: Class AA- 133 $US / 50kg bag (= 2,660 $/MT) Class AB- 126 $US / 50kg bag (= 2,520 $/MT) Class C - 119 $US / 50kg bag (= 2,380 $/MT) All treated trees were greener and apparently less exhausted after harvest. Cost of treatment (application + material) 30 US$/ha |
| Net benefit of best treatment | 163 US$/ha |
| Benefit/Cost ratio | 5.4 |
| Conclusions |
The treatments are efficient means for increasing yield and quality parameters |
| Reference | P. Mortensen, K. Kuria, (Standard Chartered), Y. Soffer |
