Improvement of robusta coffee performance with conservation and fertilizer treatment in Air Naningan District, Tanggamus Regency, Lampung

Abstract

Abstract Lampung Province is one of the coffee-producing centers in Indonesia, especially robusta coffee. One of the coffee producing centers is in Air Naningan District, Tanggamus Regency. So far, most farmers manage conventional coffee plantations without any conservation nor fertilization. The study aimed to compare the performance of coffee growth between conservation and fertilization treatments with conventional treatments. Conservation treatment was carried out by making trenches around the coffee plantations. At the same time, fertilizer was given in the form of organic fertilizer as much as 10 kg plant−1 y−1, and inorganic fertilizer in the form of Rock Phosphate 240, Urea 400, and KCl 320 g plant−1 y−1. The study showed that the conservation and fertilization could improve the performance of coffee plants, based on the agronomic performances, such as a better growth (canopy and leafy branches, shiny green leaves, and low leaf rust disease (<5%) and stems and branches attacked (<5%). The yield of coffee was also increased by around 333%. The study indicates that the combination of land conservation and fertilization could be adopted as a standard procedure for increasing coffee production in Lampung Province.