Vegetative growth of Coffea arabica L. as affected by irrigation and climatic conditions of the Cerrado of Goiás State

Abstract

The aim of this work was to evaluate the vegetative growth rate of the coffee plants (Coffea Arabica L.) and its relation with climate variables on the Cerrado of Goiás State, Brazil, based on the seasonal growth of orthotropic and plagiotropic branches with different ages in coffee trees under irrigation, water deficit and without irrigation. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized block design with four replications and 12 plants per plot. The experimental area was divided in three treatments: plants with drip irrigation and without irrigation and submitted to water deficit for 30 days during the dry season. The plants were with seven years old, and under growth conditions of full sun, 2 m spaced between rows and 0.90 m between plants within row. The climate variables (air temperature, precipitation and relative humidity) affected on a seasonal way the vegetative growth rate of orthotropic and the group of 1º plagiotropic branches of C arabica. All evaluated branches showed similar seasonal growth, and the 1º plagiotropic branches showed different growth rates in the same period of the year. Growth rate of C arabica branches were reduced by minimal air temperature bellow 17 ºC and water deficit. Thirty days of water deficit did not affect significantly the growth of C. arabica branches; however, in non-irrigated plants significant differences on the branches growth was observed.