Some of the best coffee lands of Colombia, Central America, Mexico, Java, and Sumatra are found in regions with rich loamy soils of volcanic origin.
Coffee plants need 250 to 300 mm of water a year, equivalent to an annual precipitation of 1500 to 2000 mm. If precipitation is less than this, the plants must be irrigated.
Coffee appears to flourish with a good deal of humus for its root system and it is well for the humus to be developed in the surface layer of the soil.
The ideal soil is old forest soil with a top layer of half decayed leaves, with a gradual transition into mineral soil.
The nutrient requirement of coffee plants is comparatively high, a stand of coffee plants growing vigorously and producing high yields extracts about 135 kg N/ha, 15 kg of P/ha and 120 kg of K/ha from the soil each year.
Most soils are unable to provide an optimum supply of nutrients, so chemical fertilizers are added to ensure that the plants will flourish and bear fruit.
Soil quality for coffee plant
