What is a coffee belt? How to plant coffee trees? Where is it suitable for planting?

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What is a coffee belt? How to plant coffee trees? Where is it suitable for planting?

The coffee belt refers to the area where coffee beans are grown in the latitudes of the earth. Because it happens to form a ribbon, it is called a coffee belt. This coffee belt is between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Cancer.

Coffee is a perennial evergreen shrub of Rubiaceae. At present, there are two kinds of coffee with economic value: Coffea arabica (Arabica), Coffea canephora (Robusta), and Coffea liberica (Liberia Coffee). Arabica accounts for about 70% of the world's main cultivation, while Robusta accounts for about 30% of the market.

We have also collected different local varieties of coffee. So far, we have collected coffee varieties from Pingzhen, Nantou, Hui Sun Forest Farm, Yunlin Gukeng, Meishan Chiayi, Tainan Dongshan, Fanping, and Pingtung in Kaohsiung.

I. Coffee climate and local conditions

The cultivation of coffee is mainly limited by temperature, and the suitable temperature is 15-24 ℃. If it exceeds 30 ℃, it is easy to burn the leaves. Therefore, in tropical areas, most species are planted in high-altitude fields, and coffee is very resistant to frost damage, so planting should be avoided in places prone to frost damage. The average rainfall is 1500-2500 mm, and the dry and low temperature environment is preferred in winter, which is beneficial to flower bud differentiation and harvest drying.

The traditional coffee growing area is about between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Cancer, called the coffee belt (Coffee zone), which is an ideal coffee growing area.

Coffee does not have a high demand for sunshine, especially for Arabica, which has a low tolerance to strong sun, so Arabica can use shade trees to reduce direct sunlight.

The roots of coffee have a high demand for oxygen, so the soil must have good drainage. Arabica is the most suitable for volcanic ash geological soil. Robusta is suitable for growing in soil rich in humus, and the suitable pH value is between 5.2 and 6.2.

Second, the propagation and cultivation of coffee

Coffee can be propagated by seeds, grafting or cuttings, but it is still propagated mainly by seeds. The fresh seeds germinate about 5-8 weeks after sowing, and the seedlings can be planted when they grow to 20-30 cm, and the suitable month is from December to March. The best distance between rows and plants is 3.5 × 3.5 meters.

The seedlings of coffee

Third, the pruning of coffee

Coffee began to bear fruit 3 ~ 4 years after planting, and after several years of harvest, the fruit gradually grew to the end of the fruiting branch, resulting in a decline in yield and quality, and generally pruning and regeneration was carried out after the fruiting period of 3-4 years. There are two ways, one is for the whole coffee garden, the plants are renewed in turn with different multiples, and the other is to keep each coffee with 2 or 3 main branches, and each main branch is renewed in turn to maintain good tree potential and fruit quality.

IV. Fertilization of coffee

In general, 2:1:1 (N:P:K) fertilizer can be used for coffee in the first year and 3:2:2 (N:P:K) in the second year, and the proportion of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer has increased year by year since then. Fertilizer should also make some adjustments to the climate and environment, such as high temperature and high light can increase the proportion of potash fertilizer, such as low temperature and low light environment can increase the proportion of nitrogen fertilizer, reduce the application of potash fertilizer. In addition, the detection of soil fertility and physical properties can be used to carry out correct fertilizer management and improve yield and quality.