Effects of the fertirrigation with urban wastewater on coffee yield

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of fertirrigation on the yield of Arabic coffee (Coffea Arabica), using a drip irrigation system with untreated urban wastewater (UW); confronted with irrigation with fresh water (FW) with fertilizers; The study was carried out at Experimental Unit of Wastewater Treatment and Irrigated Agriculture, of UFV, during 18 months. The fertirrigated treatments (MR’s) consisted of five depths of UW (406, 515, 798, 924 e 1071 mm). FW with fertilization (MC) was used in another treatment; and a check plot, without irrigation and fertilization (T₀). The yields in 1^st and 2^nd years and the biannual average (BA) were evaluated, using the Duncan Test. The results showed that there was no difference among MR’s; the average yield (AY) for the MR was higher than T₀ in the 1^st year; the AY for MR was higher than T₀ and lower than MC, in the 2^nd year; there was no difference between the AY for MR and MC which were higher than T₀, in terms of BA.

Key words:
reuse; nutrients; irrigated coffee crop