The Southern part of Minas Gerais State is an important coffee producer region in Brazil. Though coffee yields are still quite low. Plant tissue analysis based on sufficiency ranges as well as the Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS) are important tools for the correct use of fertilizers. However, as local standards are not yet obtained for Coffea arabica in that region, recognition as well as calibration of reference values used elsewhere are called for. Objectives of this study were: (i) to compare nutritional diagnostics for coffee plantations of the region referred to, derived from standards published in literature, (ii) to establish DRIS norms, and (iii) to suggest adequate foliar contents for nutritional diagnoses of coffee plantations in southern Minas Gerais State, Brazil. The use of reference values suggested in literature brought forth different nutritional diagnoses for the crop years 98/99 and 99/00. DRIS norms were established and nutritional foliar standards for coffee plantations in Southern Minas Gerais State suggested as follows: N = 34.7 g kg-1, P = 1.72 g kg-1, K = 22.1 g kg-1, Ca = 11.8 g kg-1, Mg = 3.06 g kg-1, S = 1.78 g kg-1, B = 65.9 mg kg-1, Cu = 37.1 mg kg-1, Fe = 110.7 mg kg-1, Mn = 372.3 mg kg-1, and Zn = 17.0 mg kg-1).
Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System; Coffea arabica; foliar analysis; critical levels