Plant growth promoters are widely used in agriculture to support crop growth and improve yield. It helps crops perform well during critical growth stages and reduce the negative impact of stress caused by weather and soil conditions.What Are Plant Growth Promoters?Plant growth promoters supports and enhance a plant’s natural growth processes. They help improve root development, vegetative growth, flowering, and fruit formation by influencing internal plant functions. Growth Promoters are commonly used to boost overall plant performance and productivityHow Do Plant Growth Promoters Work in Crops?Improving Root and Vegetative GrowthPlant growth promoters encourage stronger root systems and better branching. Improved roots increase the plant’s ability to absorb water and nutrients, leading to healthier vegetative growth and better crop establishment.Supporting Crops Under StressCrops are frequently exposed to abiotic stresses such as high temperature, moisture stress, and salinity. Growth promoters help activate natural defence mechanisms within the plant, improving stress tolerance and reducing yield loss during adverse conditions.Enhancing Flowering and YieldDuring flowering and fruit development, growth promoters improve photosynthesis and energy distribution within the plant. This helps reduce flower drop, supports fruit set, and improves overall yield quality and quantity.When to Use a Plant Growth PromoterPlant growth promoters are most effective when applied during:Active vegetative growth and branching stagesFlower initiation and flowering stagesPeriods of environmental stressCorrect timing and dosage are important to achieve visible and consistent results.Managing Common Crop Growth ProblemsMany farmers face challenges such as poor root development, weak branching, flower drop, and low fruit set, especially under heat stress, water stress or saline soil conditions. In such situations, using a suitable plant growth promoter can help support the crop’s natural growth and defence processes.Tapas VitaInject is a plant growth promoter formulated with Salicylic Acid, Natural Cytokinin and Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide). It helps improve root architecture for better nutrient and water uptake, promotes secondary and tertiary branching, and enhances overall crop vigour. It also induces tolerance to abiotic stresses such as high temperature, water deficiency and salt stress.By supporting flowering, flower retention, fruit set and yield, Tapas VitaInject helps crops maintain growth during critical stages. It works systemically within the plant and can be applied through foliar spray or drip irrigation as per recommended stages. It is used along with the regular fertilizer schedule and is not a substitute for nutrients.Why Farmers Use Plant Growth PromotersWhen applied at the right crop stage and recommended dosage, plant growth promoters help farmers improve crop performance, manage stress more effectively, and achieve stable yields. They play an important role in modern crop management focused on productivity and sustainability.ConclusionPlant growth promoters play an important role in supporting crop growth during critical stages and stress conditions. By improving root architecture, supporting vegetative growth, and enhancing flowering and fruit development, they help crops use nutrients and water more efficiently. When used at the right stage and recommended dosage, plant growth promoters support better crop vigour and yield stability. Products like Tapas VitaInject, formulated with Salicylic Acid, Natural Cytokinin and Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide), help crops tolerate abiotic stresses such as high temperature, water deficiency, and salinity while supporting root development, branching, flower retention, fruit set, and overall yield as part of a balanced crop management program.

IntroductionSucking pests like thrips, aphids, whiteflies, and leafhoppers are the major pests of vegetable crops to cause huge damage to the crop in terms of yield and quality. These tiny insects hide under the leaves and flowers, and feed on them aggressively. The damage caused by these tiny insects is very significant. The average yield loss caused by these pests is 30-40% in general for all the vegetable crops while the crop specific damage may vary from 25-30%. Severe attacks may result in total crop loss for the season. Moreover, these insects can increase the cost of production due to increased use of pest control chemicals, which could be expensive. Hence, it is very important to manage these insect pests in a cost-effective way without interfering with the safety of other beneficial insects and the environment. In this article, let’s learn about the early identification of pests through visual damage symptoms, conditions that favour the attacks, and proper management practices to safeguard your vegetable crops from these tiny monsters.Damage Symptoms of Sucking pestsSucking insects are of many kinds and every type will result in different kinds of damage symptoms. Below are the visual damage symptoms at field level.Thrips: Thrips are slender shaped insects with sucking type of mouth parts. They feed on the plant sap. As a result, the young leaves appear brittle and dull. Some plants like chilli show white silvery streaks because of thrips feeding on them. As a result of thrips attack, leaves start curling inwards. Thrips also feed on flowers which turn brown and eventually shed. Fruits exhibit silver patches, fruit deformation, and some rough canker-like growth on them. Both larval and adult stages of thrips are dangerous to crops.Whiteflies: These are small, winged insects that get attracted to lush green foliage and damage the host crop. Whiteflies usually suck the sap from the tender leaves giving them pale appearance. Excessive feeding may turn the leaves chlorotic and eventually result in leaf shedding.Aphids: Many kinds of aphids are known to damage vegetable crops. These tiny insects are of varying colors. They attack young leaves and they feed on the plant sap because of which, leaves start curling and crinkling. Both larval and adult stages of aphids are damaging to crops.Leafhoppers: Also known as jassids, are the wedge-shaped tiny insects which suck the sap from young, tender leaves. This results in yellowing of leaf margin which grows towards the centre. Severe feeding leads to hopper-burn symptoms which is reddening/bronzing of the leaf margins. Mites: Mites are non-insect pests which also cause significant yield loss to vegetable growers. There are different types of mites known to damage the crops. Leaves start showing small yellow-red spots which later turn bronze or grey leading to leaf shedding. Apart from sucking plant sap, these insects also act as carriers of virus. They carry virus from an infected plant to a healthy plant and thus spread the virus across the crops. Viral diseases may result in total crop loss if not managed properly.Favorable Conditions Warm and dry weather conditions favour the spread of whiteflies and mites while humid and cloudy weather favour the spread of insects like jassids, aphids, etc. Excess use of nitrogenous fertilizers encourages vigorous growth of the canopy which attracts these sucking insects.Sucking Pests Preventive MeasuresUse of varieties or hybrids developed to resist sucking pest damage or withstand the damage.Clean fields always make a path for pest free crops and quality yields. Keep your farm free from weeds and plant debris from previous seasons. Grow border crops like cereal crops at the borders. These border crops act as barriers to stop sucking pests moving to your farm. 5 lines of border crops can help prevent transmission. Trap crops: grow alternate host plants like marigold between the lines to distract these sucking insects from damaging the main crop.Avoid overhead irrigationAvoid use of excess nitrogenous fertilizersMaintain proper spacing between the plants and rows to allow enough penetration of sunlight and fresh air, which reduces the risk of humidity buildup.Sucking Pest Management PracticesCultural practices/ Mechanical controlInstall sticky traps like blue, yellow, and white sticky traps depending on the type of sucking insect. Blue traps are for thrips and leafhoppers; yellow traps are for aphids, whiteflies, thrips, and leafhoppers while white sticky traps are for some aphids.Use of water at moderate pressure level to wash away the insectsHandpicking and destroying the damaged plant parts during initial stage of insect attack. In case of viral transmission, uproot and burn the infected plants. Use nets to cover the crop, especially during nursery raising.Biological control of Sucking PestEncourage natural enemies like ladybird beetles, lacewing bugs, and parasitic wasps may help control the insect population. Release bio control agents like Beauveria bassiana, Verticillium lecanii, Isaria fumosorosea, Metarhizium anisopliae, etc.Product nameTechnical contentDosage EBS Beauveria bassiana Beauveria Bassiana - (2x10^8) CFU.2.5-5 ml/L of waterEBS Verticillium lecanii Verticillium Lecanii 2.0% AS2-3 ml/L of waterBio NeemAzadirachtin3-5 ml/L of waterAll Expert Verticillium Lecanii + Beauveria Bassiana + Metarhizium Anisopliae1-2 ml/L of waterSucking Pests Chemical controlProduct NameTechnical contentDosageManik InsecticideAcetamiprid 20% SP0.25ml/L of waterAlika Insecticide Thiamethoxam 12.6% + Lambda-cyhalothrin 9.5% ZC0.25-0.3 ml/L of waterConfidor InsecticideImidacloprid 200 SL (17.8 % w/w)0.5-1 ml/L of waterRogor InsecticideDimethoate 30% EC1-2 ml/L of waterAreva InsecticideThiamethoxam 25% WG0.2-0.4 g/L of waterConclusionVegetable crops every year face major threats from sucking insects during peak growing seasons. These tiny insects have been tough on crops feeding on their sap and reducing their vigour. Sucking pest damage during flowering and fruit development stage until maturity pose a huge risk of reduced market value to the commodity. Early detection of pest damage symptoms and following preventive measures keep your farms pest free can be helpful in reaping bigger harvests. Once the pest attack is spotted, plant of action including clean cultivation, field sanitation, release of bio control agents that parasitize and prey on these sucking insects along with chemical control methods will help vegetable growers escape the danger of crop loss or economic loss. By taking a proactive approach, farmers can safeguard their crops, protect yields, and minimize the financial losses caused by these hidden invaders.

IntroductionDiamondback moth (Plutella xylostella) is one of the major pests that affects cabbage crops. These are the tiny insects that have potential to cause economic losses that may range between 30% to 90%. They also attack other crop of the family such as cauliflower, knol-khol, etc. Diamondback moth feeds aggressively on the crop canopy leading to huge loss at market value, hindered plant growth leaving the crop unfit for sale. These insects are a major challenge for the growers due to their commendable ability to develop resistance to insecticides. This may limit the use of insecticides multiple times leading to higher cost of production. For farmers, this means increased spending on pest management, reduced profitability, and significant threats to food security. In a world where vegetable production is vital to nutritional and economic wellbeing, managing the diamondback moth is no longer optional-it is a necessity for ensuring healthy crops and stable livelihoods.Cabbage Diamondback Moth SymptomsYoung larvae scrape the lower sides of leaves, resulting in thin, transparent patches. These transparent patches dry out eventually and appear as holes on leaves.Young caterpillars feed on the leaves in an irregular pattern making them look like shot holes. In severe cases, larvae feeding on leaves, sometimes between the veins leads to skeletonization of the canopy. This impacts the photosynthetic activity of the plant, thus reduced yield. Fine silk webbing and small, dark frass pellets may be found on the underside of leaves. This is a clear sign of active larval feeding.Damaged plants exhibit stunted growth and look deformed.Larvae often hide within cabbage heads, and feed on them making them unfit for marketing.Favorable ConditionsThe pest can be transported by human activity to new areas. They usually thrive well in hot temperatures ranging between 100 C to 300 C accompanied by high humidity. Rainfall can greatly influence the population dynamics of DBM.Diamondback Moth in Cabbage Preventive MeasuresAvoid transportation of pests by human activity which leads to its introduction in new areas.Grow cabbage varieties that are resistant or tolerant to diamondback moth attack.Avoid planting during the hot season or dry areas, which is favorable for the moth to reproduce.Remove and destroy alternate hosts and all debris and stubbles.Maintain plant hygiene and keep plant promptly and sanitize field before planting.Diamondback Moth Management PracticesCultural PracticesFollow crop rotation with non-cruciferous crops. Since non-crucifers do not host diamondback moths, they can be eradicated from the field completely.Adopting intercropping system with tomatoes in 20:1 ratio can reduce damage (20 lines of cabbage and one line of tomato)Frequent irrigation can reduce moth reproduction thereby their populationMarigold can be planted as a trap crop to avoid damage to the main crop. Marigold acts as an alternate host to these insects, hence insect damage can be avoided on the main crop, i.e. cabbage.Remove and destroy all the debris and stubbles after harvesting crops and plough the land to disrupt the development of pests.Collect and destroy diamondback moth larva during the initial stage of pest attack.Use pheromone traps @12 per hectareBiological Control Methods The damage can be reduced by using biocontrol agent Bacillus thuringiensis. It disrupts the digestive system of DBM when it eats leaves treated with Bacillus thuringiensis.Beauveria bassiana can also be used as biocontrol agent to control DBMDiadegma semiclausum, a parasitic wasp can be released at 50000/ha after 60 days of planting cabbageNeem seed kernel extract can be used at 5%Chemical Control MethodsFollowing chemicals at prescribed rate can be used to control the insect damage:Product nameTechnical contentDosagePager InsecticideDiafenthiuron 50% WP0.8-1.2 g/liter of waterGracia InsecticideFluxametamide 10% EC 0.8 ml/liter of waterProclaim InsecticideEmamectin benzoate 5% SG0.4 g/liter of waterBrofreya InsecticideBroflanilide 20% SC 0.25 ml/liter of waterTakumi Insecticide Flubendiamide 20% WG 0.5 g/liter of waterConclusionTo conclude, diamond back moths pose a serious threat to crucifers, especially cabbage. The amount of losses incurred may last up to 90% if not managed during the early stages. To prevent these tiny monsters from devouring your crops within a short duration and to safeguard your crop from further losses, an effective control strategy is very important. Instead of going for single management practice, it is better to adapt to integrated pest management strategies to protect your crop from dangerous diamondback moths in an environmentally safe way. Effective control not only protects yield and crop quality but also supports farmer profitability and long-term agricultural sustainability.

IntroductionWheat rust is one of the major fungal diseases that attacks wheat crops, particularly in wheat-growing regions of India. Rust of wheat is caused by fungi belonging to Puccinia genus, which can spread through the air and has the potential to travel thousands of miles and infect the wheat crop. Wheat Rust is a persistent and devastating threat to wheat production worldwide. Every year, substantial yield losses are caused by the three main forms of wheat rust: black rust (Puccinia graminis), brown rust (Puccinia triticina), and yellow rust (Puccinia striiformis). Under ideal environmental conditions, like high humidity and moderate temperatures, it can spread quickly, severely damaging wheat crops.Millions of hectares of wheat-producing land are affected by wheat rust, leading to significant economic losses annually. Depending on the severity of the outbreak and the susceptibility of the wheat variety, crop losses can range from 10% to 50%. and in extreme cases, entire harvests may be destroyed, impacting wheat market prices. To avoid such losses, effective disease management is very important. Effective control methods range from mechanical control to chemical control. In this article, let’s know about the disease, pathogens, favorable conditions, and control measures.Wheat Rust SymptomsStem Rust: Also known as Black Rust is caused by the fungus Puccinia graminis. It is known for its large, spindle shaped bumps on stem area. These bumps are reddish-brown which turn black as the disease progresses. Wheat stem and leaf sheaths are the common targets of the fungus. Stem rust grows quickly and can cause more damage. Stripe Rust: Also known as Yellow Rust. Caused by the fungus Puccinia striiformis, the symptoms appear as yellow to orange stripes on the infected leaves. Stripe rust can severely reduce the grain yield due to poor photosynthetic activity because of yellow bumps on the leaves.Leaf Rust: Also called Brown Rust caused by Puccinia triticina. The symptoms of brown rust are characterized by the presence of tiny, round bumps that are reddish-brown in color. The symptoms usually appear on leaves which later may cause the death of the plant as disease progresses.Favourable ConditionsStripe rust disease, which is also known as yellow rust, thrives well under cooler conditions. Growing seasons like early spring or winters can favor disease spreading. Cooler temperatures ranging between 10-15°C are the most favorable for fungal infection.Leaf rust and stem rust, on the other hand, thrive well prefer a little warmer temperature than stripe rust. Temperatures ranging between 15-25°C will favor the fungi here. High humidity and prolonged leaf wetness are also crucial for the growth of fungus. Humidity levels above 80% are most likely to cause the spread of fungus.Rust Disease in Wheat Preventive MeasuresPlanting resistant varieties is the most effective way to control rust disease. The resistant varieties are mainly bred to fight the disease. Choosing varieties with adult plant resistance provides long-term protection against rust.Rotate wheat with non-host crops to break the disease cycle Remove and destroy infected plants to decrease the fungal colonies.Avoid early sowing: early sowing may help in escaping the risk of disease appearance as it may skip all the critical growth stages and weather conditions that favor the rust disease. Avoid dense stands and allow proper spacing between the plants as enough ventilation through the wheat plots may help avoid infection. Get rid of alternate hosts, if any. Alternate hosts might carry inoculum or encourage the spread of wheat rust disease.Balanced fertilization, proper spacing, and avoiding excessive irrigation help reduce humidity that favors rust.Management Of Rust DiseaseCultural Practices to Control Rust in WheatCultivation of resistant or tolerant varieties recommended for the season and locality. Crop rotation with non-host cropRemove and destroy heavily infected plants. Rust Disease in Wheat Biological controlUse of beneficial microorganisms to suppress the rust causing fungi and enhance plant resistance. Microbes such as Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma viride, Pseudomonas fluorescens, and Bacillus subtilis can inhibit rust spore germination and reduce disease severity. These bioagents can be applied as seed treatments, soil amendments, or foliar sprays. Using biological control along with resistant varieties, proper field hygiene, and timely monitoring forms an eco-friendly, integrated approach to managing wheat rust.Wheat Rust Chemical ControlProduct nameTechnical contentDosage dilution in water (L)Ergon FungicideKresoxim-methyl 44.3% SC1 ml/L in waterIndofil M-45 FungicideMancozeb 75% WP2-2.6g/L in waterTilt FungicidePropiconazole 25% WG0.6ml/L in waterKatyayani Azozole FungicideAzoxystrobin 18.2% + Cyproconazo le 7.3% w/w SC1ml/L in waterCONCLUSIONTo conclude, effective control measures for all three types of rust, namely stem rust, stripe rust, and leaf rust in wheat, demand a combination of early disease detection by symptoms, preventive measures, as well as timely action. The risk of facing yield loss or crop loss in severe cases shall be avoided by sticking to the cultural practices like cultivation of resistant varieties, proper sanitation of the field, getting rid of alternate hosts, biological control using biocontrol agents like Trichoderma harzianum, Bacillus subtilis, etc., and chemical control methods using chemical fungicides. By integrating cultural, biological, and chemical strategies, farmers can safeguard their crops, minimize yield losses, and ensure sustainable wheat production, ultimately protecting food security.

India is the second largest onion producer. Indian onions are famous for having their pungency all year around. Due to this fact there is a lot of demand for Indian Onions. India has exported 1,537,496.89 MT of fresh onion to the world for the worth Rs. 3,432.14 crores during the year 2021-22. Some of the major export countries are Bangladesh, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, United Arab EMTs, Nepal and Indonesia. Major onion growing states are Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand and Telangana.  Difficulty Level: Medium  Selection of Seeds There are various kind of onion varieties to choose from like Co­ 1, Co­ 2, MDU­ 1, Agrifound Rose, Arka Bindu, Bhima Shubra, Bhima Shweta, Bhima Safed, Pusa White Round, Arka Yojith, Pusa White Flat, Udaipur ­102, Phule Safed, N­257­9­1, Agrifound White, Phule Suvarna, Arka Niketan, Arka Kirtiman, Bhima Super, Bhima Red, Punjab Selection, Pusa Red, N­2­-4­-1, Pusa Madhavi, Arka Kalyan and Arka Lalima.  Onion Seed Treatment The green shoots of the onion are completely cut and removed. The onion bulbs are then treated with bavistin (or) dithane M45 @ 2 gm/litre water for 5-10 minutes before sowing. This will help prevent the bulbs infection from soil borne pathogens.  The seeds are treated with thiram @ 2gm/kg of seeds. Two days after treating the seeds, they are treated with Trichoderma viride @ 1.25 kg/ha is also recommended to manage damping off and raise healthy seedlings. Nursery Bed Preparation for Onions The seed requirement for one hectare is approximately 5 – 7 kgs. The ideal nursery size is about 6 to 7 cents. The land is ploughed 5 – 6 times and all the debris is removed. The soil is mixed with 500 kg of FYM and raised beds are made. The raised beds are of 10-15 cm height, 1.0 & 1.2 m width and length respectively with 30 cm distance between each bed. The seeds are then sown in lines at 50 mm to 75 mm. This is followed by light irrigation. After 35-40 days after sowing (DAS) for Kharif and 45-50 DAS for late Kharif and Rabi seasons,  the seedling will be available for transplanting.  Land Preparations for Onion Onion land preparation follows the land being ploughed for three to four times. Add 20 tons of FYM per acre at the time of last ploughing. Ridges and furrows are made with 20 cm spacing and fertilizers of Urea: 26 kg, SSP: 144 kg and Potash: 19 kgs are to be added to the soil. The treated bulbs are planted after irrigating the field for easy transplanting.  Soil Type Requirements for Onion Onion is grown all throughout the country. Therefore, onions can be grown in any soil. However, loamy soil or clayey loam soil is considered to be ideal.  Soil pH for Onion Production Soil with neutral pH is optimal.  Conclusion Onion is a hardy crop that can be grown anywhere. Onions, unlike other crops, can be stored for a long time. Therefore, onions regardless of when or where it is grown can be stored and sold in the market.  FAQs What is the seed rate for onion? The seed requirement for one acre is approximately 2 – 3 kgs.  What are the popular varieties of onion? States  Varieties  Karnataka & Telangana  Nasik Red onion (N-53), Royal selection onion, JSC Nasik Red onion (N-53), Prema 178 onion  Andhra Pradesh  Nasik Red onion (N-53), Prema onion, JSC Nasik Red onion (N-53), Prema 178 onion, Gulmohar onion  Madhya Pradesh  Nasik red onion (N-53), Gulmohar onion, Laxmi onion seeds diamond super, Royal Selection onion, Rise Agro Laxmi onion diamond super  Maharashtra  Nasik Red onion (N-53), Gulmohar onion seeds, JSC Nasik red onion (N-53), Royal selection onion, Rise Agro Laxmi onion diamond super  Uttar Pradesh  Nasik Red onion (N-53), Royal selection onion, Prema onion, JSC Nasik Red onion (N-53), Gulmohar onion  What is the ideal time for transplanting onion seedlings? After 35 – 40 days after sowing (DAS) for Kharif and 45 – 50 DAS for late Kharif and Rabi seasons, the seedling will be ready for transplanting.  What is the fertilizer recommendation for onion? The general dose of fertilizer recommendation for onion is 38:14:22 kg/acre. The commercial quantity to be applied in the field is given in the table below:  Nutrient  Fertilizers  General Dose (per acre)  Organic  FYM   6 ton  N  Urea (or)  83 kg  Ammonium Sulphate  178 kg  P  Single Super Phosphate (SSP) (or)  89 kg  Double Super Phosphate (DSP)  44 kg  K  Muriate of Potash (MOP) (or)  37 kg  Sulphate of Potash (SOP)  45 kg  Zn  (For zinc deficient soil)  ANAND AGRO INSTA CHEAL ZINC 12 % Micronutrient    Foliar application: 0.5 -1 gm/lit water  Soil application: 10 kg  B              ALLBOR Boron 20%    Foliar spray: 1gm/lit water    How is seed treatment done for onion bulb/seeds? Bulb treatment: Treat the onion bulbs with Bavistin (or) Dithane M75 (Mancozeb 75% WP) at 2 – 2.5 gm/litre water for 5 – 10 minutes before sowing.  This will help prevent the bulbs infection from soil borne pathogens.   Seed treatment: The seeds are treated with Vitavax powder (Carboxin 37.5% + Thiram 37.5% DS) at 3 gm/kg seed per acre or treat with BACF TRIDENT (Tricoderma viride 1.5%WP) at 4 gm/kg seed is also recommended to manage damping off and raise healthy seedlings.   Note: The information contained herein is for informational purposes only. Nothing herein shall be construed to be financial or legal advice. Pesticides are a considerable risk of loss in crops and viewers are advised to do their own research before making any decisions.

India in the year 2021-2022 alone produced 3.69 lakh tonnes of coffee. The world’s largest coffee producers are Brazil, Vietnam, Columbia, Indonesia and Ethiopia. India ranks as the world’s seventh-largest coffee producer. In India, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu are the largest producers of coffee. Indian coffee is regarded as one of the strongest blends. Indian coffee, however, is extensively exported by almost 80% of the total coffee produced. India exports to Italy,  Germany, Russia, Spain, Belgium, Slovenia, United States and the United Kingdom. There are two kinds of coffee that are cultivated: Arabica and Robusta.  Difficulty Level: Hard Selection of Seeds There are two major types, arabica and robusta. The popular hybrids from those two types are  Kent, S-795, Cauvery, and Selection 9.  Coffee Seed Treatment Coffee seeds are usually bought from credible retailers as producing coffee seeds from coffee beans is very hard. Coffee seeds are treated with Azospirillum and phosphobacteria. Coffee seeds are not treated with too many chemicals as the seeds are sensitive to different chemicals and can affect the germination process. The coffee seed’s coat must be removed carefully. The seeds are then washed in a 1% solution of sodium hypochlorite. The seeds are then immediately washed in demineralized water to remove any chemical residue. The seeds are then soaked for 48 hours.  Nursery Bed Preparation for Coffee Coffee saplings are usually bought and planted, as getting coffee saplings from seed is very hard, time-consuming and delicate. Coffee saplings in nurseries are usually raised in polythene bags. The bag is mixed with a thin layer of fine soil, vermiculite and humus. The seeds are then individually sown and kept in shade. The germination takes 2.5 months. The coffee seeds are very sensitive, therefore too much water or too little can kill the seeds. Land Preparation for Coffee  The field must be weed free. The field must be cleaned without any debris. The field must be on a sloppy surface for better water management. The field must be soil tested before any nutrient or manure application. Based on soil test results, apply lime accordingly. Adding bulky organic manures like FYM or compost at 5 tonnes/ha is a thumb rule. The saplings are usually planted in a shaded condition, usually with an accompanying agroforestry crop.  Soil Type Requirements for Coffee Coffee is usually planted on a well drained soil with high humus content and with pH of 5 to 6. The soil has to be acidic, and this has to be maintained. The soil must be tested every 2 years to find out the fertility level.  Conclusion Coffee is a very hard crop to cultivate and is extremely sensitive. Coffee, however, if cultivated properly will fetch the farmer high return on investment.  FAQs  What are the popular varieties and hybrids of coffee? Variety – Arabica and Robusta  Hybrid – Kent, S – 795, Cauvery, and Selection 9  How to do seed treatment for coffee seeds? Treat the coffee beans/seeds with 10 ml of Azospirillium (SUN BIO AZOS) or Phosphobacteria (SUN BIO PHOSI) mixed with cold jaggery solution. Dry the treated seeds in shade before sowing and use it on the same day.  What is the germination period for the seeds? It is 2.5 months.  Is there any specific growth condition for coffee? The saplings are usually planted in a shaded condition, usually with an accompanying agroforestry crop.  What are the major plantation trees grown to provide shade to coffee? Coffee grows in a 3 – tier shade system.  The lower shade tier is usually a nitrogen fixing species like Erythrina or Glyricidia. The secondary tier is of trees like silver oak, white or red cedar which provides effective shade during monsoon by shedding leaves. The tertiary tier is of hardwood trees.   What type of soilis ideal for coffee cultivation? Well-drained loamy soil is ideal for coffee cultivation.  How is irrigation done for coffee? Over-head irrigation by sprinkler system is adopted to a greater advantage during Nov – Jan to keep the soil moisture level and Feb – April to ensure blossom as well as backing, if necessary.  What is the fertilizer recommendation for coffee? The general dose of fertilizer recommendation and its commercial quantity for young bushes up to 4th year is given in the table below.  Year  NPK dose (gram/plant/year)  Fertilizers (gram/plant/year)  Urea  Rock Phosphate  MOP  Arabica  1 year  20:10:20  43  33  33  2 year  20:10:20  43  33  33  3 year  25:15:25  54  50  42  4 year  25:15:25  54  50  42  Robusta  1 year  38:28:38  83  92  63  2 year  38:28:38  83  92  63  3 year  38:28:38  83  92  63  4 year  40:30:40  87  99  67  Fertilizer requirement and commercial quantity for mature yielding coffee is given in the table below.  Bearing bush   NPK dose (kg/acre)  Fertilizer (kg/acre)  Urea  Rock Phosphate  MOP  Yield level (kg/acre)  Arabica  1000  120:90:120  260  297  200  500  70:50:70  152  165  117  Robusta  1000  120:90:130  260  297  217  500  70:50:80  152  165  134    Note: The information contained herein is for informational purposes only. Nothing herein shall be construed to be financial or legal advice. Pesticides are a considerable risk of loss in crops and viewers are advised to do their own research before making any decisions.