Combined Application of Coffee Husk Compost and Inorganic Fertilizer to Improve the Soil Ecological Environment and Photosynthetic Characteristics of Arabica Coffee

Abstract

Excessive use of chemical fertilizers deteriorates the soil environment and limits the normal growth of Arabica coffee trees. In order to identify the optimal coupling mode of chemical fertilizer application and biomass return that enhances the soil ecological environment and promotes the photosynthetic efficiency of Arabica coffee, this study investigated the impacts of three levels of inorganic fertilizers (FL: 360 kg·ha−1, FM: 720 kg·ha−1, and FH: 1080 kg·ha−1) and three types of coffee husk returning methods (CB: coffee husk biochar, CC: coffee husk compost, CA: coffee husk ash) on the soil fertility, microbial amount, enzyme activity, and photosynthetic characteristics of the Arabica coffee root zone. The entropy weight-TOPSIS method was employed to evaluate the comprehensive benefits. The results showed that FM had the biggest effect on improving soil fertility, microorganisms, and enzyme activities compared with FL and FH. Moreover, compared to CA, CC significantly increased soil organic carbon, organic matter, and total nitrogen content. CC significantly enhanced the activities of soil phosphatase and urease, respectively, by 29.84% and 96.00%, and significantly increased the amount of bacteria, fungi, and actinomycetes by 62.15%, 68.42%, and 46.21%, respectively. The net photosynthetic rate (Pn), transpiration rate (Tr), and stomatal conductance (Gs) of FMCC were significantly higher than those of other treatments. The comprehensive benefit evaluation of the soil environment and photosynthetic characteristics by the entropy weight-TOPSIS method ranked FMCC first. Therefore, FMCC was the optimal coupling mode for fertilizer application and the coffee husk returning method. The findings of this study not only provide scientific guidance for fertilizing Arabica coffee but also clarify the proper approach to returning coffee husk to the field, thereby improving soil ecology and promoting green and efficient production of specialty crops.

The Effect of Recycled Spent Coffee Grounds Fertilizer, Vermicompost, and Chemical Fertilizers on the Growth and Soil Quality of Red Radish (Raphanus sativus) in the United Arab Emirates: A Sustainability Perspective

“…The fresh weight results underscore the critical impact of the fertilizer type on the fresh weight of red radish plants. The marked differences in the fresh weight across the treatments reflect the importance of choosing the appropriate fertilizers for optimal plant growth [38,39]. This present study offers valuable insights into agricultural practices, particularly for enhancing the fresh weight of red radish plants through strategic fertilizer use.…”

“…This present study offers valuable insights into agricultural practices, particularly for enhancing the fresh weight of red radish plants through strategic fertilizer use. The strong association between fertilizer types and fresh and dry weight outcomes suggests potential avenues for manipulating plant growth characteristics through targeted fertilization strategies [38,40,41,42].…”

“…Secondly, there were the phytotoxic compounds such as polyphenols, which were present in the SCGs. Vermicomposting and pyrolysis at 400 °C have been demonstrated as effective SCG transformation methods for removing these compounds [38,41]. Nevertheless, certain studies have indicated that these compounds are accountable for the chelating characteristics of SCGs, thereby rendering their removal inadvisable.…”

Morphological trait variation of the immature liberica coffee (Coffea liberica) from West Java applied difference of coffee husk compost and biofertilizer

“…Composite organic fertilizer contains a variety of macronutrients that plant needs, namely N, P, and K. N is one of the main components of proteins, enzymes, hormones, and vitamins influencing plant growth (Dikr and Belete 2017). According to Jiang et al (2023), coffee husks contain N, P, and K as macronutrients for plant development. P element plays a role in transporting energy from plant metabolism, the formation of seeds, and root growth, in addition to the position in plant cell division and tissue enlargement (Sardans and Peñuelas 2021).…”

Using Hierarchical Agglomerative Clustering in E-Nose for Coffee Aroma Profiling: Identification, Quantification, and Disease Detection

“…Coffee cultivation had become an important sector of commerce in India by the 18th century, especially in the southern regions of Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. Initially, Indian coffee was raised mostly by small-scale farmers and sold in neighborhood markets [1]. To expand output, the British constructed enormous coffee plantations in the highlands of southern India, employing forced labor and improved methods of farming techniques.…”