Ethiopian Coffee Handbook P1

ETHIOPIAN COFFEE HANDBOOK

A Practical Guide for Subject Matter Specialists andDevelopment Agents

International Agricultural Training ProgrammeMarch, 1995

Coffee and Tea AuthorityEthiopia

European Development Fund (EDF)Project No. 6.ACP.ET . 026

http://6.ACP.ET

()

Coffee and Tea Development and Marketing Authority and IATP, 1995

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproducedby any means, nor transmitted, nor translated into a machinelanguage without the written permission of the publisher.

The technical recommendations and opinions detailed in the text are those of theEditorial Committee and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the EuropeanUnion Institutions.

The first draft was published by the International Agricultural Training Programme, EastClose, Ditcheat, Shepton Mallet, Somerset BA4 6PS, United Kingdom.

First published 1995

I SBN 1 898547 12 2

ACKNOWLEID[:h:MEN'I'S

This first edition of the Ethiopian Coffee Handbook was initially prepared in draft formby Ato Yilma Yemane-Berhan. This text was used as a base upon which an EditorialCommittee made up of:

Ato Abayneh AlemuAto Ebrahim SequarAto Yehasab Aschalew

under the chairmanship of Ato Berhanu Antoine developed the detailedrecommendations. The final editorial work was undertaken by Ato Adane Gebre.

The artwork was undertaken by Ato Nega Gebremedhin and a number of illustrationshave been used from A Review of Major Coffee Pruning Practices with the permission ofthe author.

I CI I Zeneca Agrochemicals kindly supplied all the colour photographs relating to pestsand diseases.

The initial typing was undertaken by W/o Berhane GtHiwot and the page settingundertaken by Pernille Olsen.

I ATP would like to offer their thanks to these people and also to the staff of the RegionalBureaux of Coffee and Tea for all their constructive comments.

Coffee and Tea Development and Marketing Authority, March 199 5

CONTENTS

4. WEED CONTROL

Coffee and Tea Development and Marketing Authority, July 1994

Foreword from the Head of the Development & ProjectCoordination Department

How to use this HandbookI ntroduction to Coffee Growing in Ethiopia

4.1. Ploughing4.2. Hoeing4.3. Slashing4.4. Mulching4.5. Shading4.6. Chemical Control

Contents

1. COFFEE NURSERY

1.1. Seed SelectionMANAGEMENT

1.2. Seed Preparation1.3. Seed Viability1.4. Calculation of Seed Quantity Required1.5. Nursery Site Selection1.6. Bareroot Method of Raising Seedlings1.7. Sowing Seeds for Bareroot Seedlings1.8. Polytube Method of Seedling Production1.9. Preparing a Polytube Nursery1.10. Maintenance of Bareroot and Polytube Seedlings1.11. Disease Control1.12. Insect Pest Control1.13. Seedling Acclimatisation1.14. Selection of Seedlings1.15. Preparation of Seedlings for Transplanting

2. SITE PREPARATION AND

2.1. Slope of LandPLANTING

2.2. Land Preparation in Wooded Areas2.3. Land Preparation on Previously Farmed Land2.4. Lining for Planting .2.5. Spacing2.6. Preparation of Planting Holes2.7. Planting Materials

' 2.8. Planting out in the Field2.9. Planting Bareroot Seedlings2.10. Planting Polytube Seedlings2.11. Aftercare of Seedlings

3. MULCHING AND SHADE

3.1. Advantages of MulchTREES

3.2. Mulch Materials3.3. Production of Mulch Materials3.4. Methods of Mulch Application3.5. Coffee Shade Management

9.4. Wet Processing9.5. Yields

10. INTERCROPPING

Coffee and Tea Development and Marketing Authority, July 199 4

Contents

i

5.

6.

FERTILISERS ANDMANURES

COFFEE PRUNING

5.1. Types of Fertilisers5.2. Fertiliser Application Rates5.3. Method of Application5.4. Organic Manures

6.1. Types of Pruning6.2. Formative Pruning6.3. Maintenance Pruning

7. MAJOR PESTS AND

6.4. Rehabilitation of Old Coffee Plants6.5. Rehabilitation by Stumping6.6. Rehabilitation by Side Pruning6.7. Rehabilitation by Topping6.8. Interplanting following Stumping

7.1. Antestia Bug

8.

DISEASES

DISORDERS IN COFFEE

7.2. White Coffee Bug7.3. Coffee Berry Borer7.4. Coffee Leaf Miner7.5. Leaf Skeletonizer7.6. Coffee Berry Disease7.7. Coffee Leaf Rust

8.1. General Plant WeaknessPLANTS 8.2. Branch Disorders

8.3. Leaf Disorders8.4. Root Disorders8.5. Disorders of Flowers and Berries

9.1. Main Season Harvesting9. COFFEE HARVESTINGAND PROCESSING 9.2. End of Season Strip Picking

9.3. Dry Processing

Foreword

This manual has been prepared to give practical guidancefor field extension workers who are in frequent contactwith smallholder farmers for whom coffee is an importantcash crop.

It covers most of the basic aspects of coffeeproduction from the nursery through to harvest.

Users of this manual should bear in mind that there isno absolute coffee textbook which could provide solutionsto the many problems and constraints associated with theproduction of a crop which is being grown in a range ofdiffering agroecological zones and farming systems.

Thus extension agents should supplement this manual withtheir own acquired knowledge and with the fullest partic-ipation of the farmers, continue to develop and improveEthiopian coffee which already enjoys a high reputationamongst overseas buyers.

Finally I would like to express my appreciation to allthose who have provided assistance in the preparation ofthis manual and especially the EC for their financialsupport and IATP for publishing.

Assefa TignehHead, Development & Project

Coordination Department

HOW TO USE Tim S HANDBOOK

technical note

This Ethiopian Coffee Handbook has been written to provide apractical field book for Subject Matter Specialists and extensionagents. The detailed recommendations have been agreed by acommittee of specialists from the Coffee and Tea Developmentand Marketing Authority.

We hope you will find it valuable as a:

•

reference book when preparing for meetings with farmers oranswering farmers' questions;

•

teaching aid when discussing coffee growing with individualfarmers;

•

training aid when guiding newly qualified staff membersassigned to you.

The text has been written in a non-technical language in a se-quence of easy-to-follow steps.

Coffee and Tea Development and Marketing Authority, March 1995

How to use this Handbook

This is the first draft of the handbook and we look forward to yourcomments on how improvements might be made. Please sendthem to Extension Team Leader, Coffee Improvement Project,Coffee and Tea Development and Marketing Authority, PO Box2594, Addis Ababa.

INTRODUCTION TO COFFEE GROWING IN ETHIOPIA


Introduction

Coffee is a perennial tropical crop now grown in over eightycountries on four continents. Coffea arebica and Coffee canephora(Robusta) are the most widely grown. Arabica coffee originated inEthiopia where it has always held an important place in the socialand cultural life of our people.

Coffee is now the most important export commodity crop forEthiopia involving 5 million farming families in production andprocessing. The area under crop is estimated at 321,000ha; 55%of this is in the western area while southern and eastern areasrepresent 35% and 10%, respectively. The total production rangesfrom 180,000 to 200,000 tonnes of clean coffee per annum.

Arabica coffee prefers deep, friable, well drained and slightlyacidic soils with a pH of 4.5 to 6.5, an elevation ranging from 1,200to 2,300 meters above sea level and a well distributed rainfall ofmore than 900mm per annum. In addition, the provision of shade,pruning, fertilising, pest and disease control and soil and waterconservation need to be integrated to achieve a sustainableproduction system.

I ndeed, Ethiopian smallholder farmers have inherited rich culturalpractices, which in a multiple cropping system go a long way in themaintenance of soil fertility and a variety of coffee types with prizedquality characteristics. Much extension work still remains to bedone to exploit this inheritance to the full thus maximising farmers'i ncomes and foreign exchange earnings from coffee.

COFFEE VARIETIES

farmers' note

The Coffee Berry Disease (CBD) resistant varieties suitable forplanting in Sidamo, Kefa, Illubabor and Wollega are listed below:

Coffee Varieties

I n addition, your farmers should be encouraged to select mothertrees which, through their long-term observations, show a highdegree of CBD resistance combined with tree vigour and goodcropping levels.

The only suitable varieties for planting in East and West Haragheare local selections selected by the farming community as de-scribed above.

General recommendations regarding agro-ecological areas forgrowing coffee are:

•

The best altitude for all cultivars is from 1,550 - 1,900mabove sea level;

•

The average annual rainfall should be above 1,400mm and welldistributed over a seven month period;

•

Average temperature from 10 - 26°C;•

Well drained, deep, brown-red to red friable loams are ideal forall cultivars.

The major coffee producing areas are shown on the following map.


.

1

Cultivars Growth habit Yield (q/ha)

741 open type 11.47487 19.17492 15.1744 11.3754 12.07522

7454 medium open type 16.074165 17.0

74158 compact 17.074148 16.774110 22.674112 18.374140 20.27440 14.0


Coffee Varieties

2

1. COFFEE NURSERY MANAGEMENT

1.1. Seed Selection

For any new coffee planting to be a success it is important to:

•

Select viable, healthy seed;•

Establish a nursery with the best growing conditions; and,•

Prepare vigorous and healthy seedlings.

Persuade your farmers not to collect volunteer seedlings. Theyare:

•

Weak;•

Likely to have pest and disease infestation; and,•

Have a poor root system.

VOLUNTEER SEEDLINGS SHOWING TWISTED AND DEFORMED ROOT SYSTEMS

I t is very important to select cherries for seed only from vigorousand healthy trees which have given an above average yield forthree or four years. The trees should be resistant to Coffee DerryDisease and tolerant to drought if the area has a long dry seasonof more than three months.

I nspect the trees while the berries are ripening. Do not collectcherries for seed from trees which show any of the diseasesymptoms or disorders described in Sections 7 and 8.

Coffee and Tea Development and Marketing Authority, March 1995 -

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Coffee Nursery Manaaeme

Coffee Nursery Management

The viability of the seed declines considerably about six monthsafter harvest. It can be prolonged up to about 12 months if it i sstored in a simple cheap seed store. This should have a thatchedroof with wooden walls and ceilings, all plastered with mud to keepthe inside temperature cool. There should be a small doorway witha wooden door. Inside the floor should be raised above thesurrounding level and the seed sacks stored on a wooden platformabove the floor level

Store the seed in fibre sacks. Do not store in plastic sacks or anycontainer that has had contact with agricultural chemicals orfertilizers.


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1.2. Seed Preparation Cherries for seed should be picked from the middle nodes of themiddle branches of middle aged trees in the middle of the harvestseason.

Pick only red ripe, well shaped, unblemished, fully matured cher-ries.

On the same day that the cherries have been picked, wash themin clean water to remove any surface dirt or spray residue. Takeoff any floaters and throw them away. If you have more than 10floaters per 100 cherries picked advise your farmers to discard allthe cherries and start the seed preparation procedure again.

Pulp the seeds by hand by carefully squeezing them individuallybetween finger and thumb underwater to burst the skin. Separatethe skins and throw them away with the washing water. Leave inthe container in the shade to ferment the seeds for up to 10 hours.Then, thoroughly wash the slimy seed, covered in mucilage, inclean water for twenty minutes, stirring gently every two or threeminutes.

Remove any further floaters and pick out any pearl beans, triangu-lar beans and any beans that are deformed.

Tip out the water. Now mix the beans with finely powderedcharcoal or sieved wood ash. Use sufficient powder to coat everybean. This makes each seed separate. This procedure ensuresthat the seeds dry slowly and the parchment does not crack.

The coated beans are then spread out in a layer one bean thick onwire mesh trays or open woven mats in a well ventilated, shadyplace protected from rain and strong wind. The first stage of dryingis when the parchment has dried but the inside is still wet. Thebeans are soft when bitten. At this stage, they will have a moisturecontent of 25 - 30%. Continue drying until the seeds just crackwhen bitten. They will then have a moisture content of 15 - 18%.

1.3. Seed Viability You may need to store seeds for up to 10 months because of thegap between harvesting (during October and November) andsowing seeds (between April and August).

technical note

technical note

1.4 Calculation of Seed

To calculate how much seed to prepare you will needQuantity Required

i nformation on:The size of the area to be planted;The type of coffee cultivar to be planted i.e. whethercompact or open;The coffee tree population per hectare; (see Section 2.5)The anticipated viability of the seeds; (see Section 1.3)The cropping system, i.e. coffee alone or a mixture of tree crops;The altitude of the area to be planted.


Count out the seeds in piles of 500 and check the number. As analternative, weight the seed. In a kilogram of coffee seeds thereare between 4,000 and 4,500 seeds. To be on the safe side, baseyour calculation of 4,000 seeds/kg. In the example above, thefarmer will require 4,687 4,000 = 1.17 k.g of seed,

1.5 Nursery Site Selection

Nursery sites should be chosen carefully. Look for thefollowing:The site must be accessible by road and within threekilometers of the planting fields;

The land should be flat or with a very gentle slope notexceeding 5%;The design of the nursery should allow 10m long beds tobe laid out running East to West;The soil should be free of stones and large tree stumps;A permanent source of water must be available;The site should not be located at the bottom of long

slopes where cold air can settle at night;

Coffee and Tea Development and Marketing Authority, March 1995 -

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• The site must have good drainage and the soil should be atleast 1 m deep, red or dark red in colour, light loam in textureand high in organic matter;

•

The site should be close to where the farmers live so that littletime is lost in travel.

Clear the land of all plants, woody materials, stumps and roots.

Dig.a ditch 0.5m deep and 0.5m wide on the up-slope side of thenursery site. Build up the soil as a ridge on the down slope side ofthe ditch to protect the nursery from flash flooding.

Plant Vetiver grass (Vetivaria zizanioides) on the ridge to minimiseerosion and provide a suitable fine grass for mulching the seedlingbeds.

Build a fence around the perimeter of the area strong enough tostop livestock entering and have a single entrance wide enough forvehicle access. Construct a simple store for tools, rolls of polytubematerial and fertilisers/chemicals.

PATH

PATH



6


There should be sufficient internal access so that vehicles canback up to the end of the beds for easy loading of the seedlings.

Each bed should be 1.2m wide and 10m-12m long with a 1 m to1.2m wide pathway between each pair of beds.

There are two methods that can be used to raise seedlings. Oneis the production of barerooted seedlings and the other is the

preparation of seedlings in polytubes. Each requires a differentmethod of bed preparation.

technical note

1.7. Sowing Seeds for

Bareroot Seedlings

Coffee and Tea Development and Marketing Authority, March 1995 1 7

1.6. Bareroot Method of

Peg out the corners of the nursery beds and mark the sides with

Raising Seedlings string lines. Dig over the bed thoroughly to a depth of 20cm andremove all the weeds as you go along. Remove the top 15cm ofsoil from the area intended forthe pathways and place it on the fopof the area marked out for the beds. This will raise the height of thebed by about 15cm. Broadcast DAP fertilizer over the surface ofthe bed at the rate of 200g per 1 Om length of bed. Mix this with thetop soil, breaking the surface down to a fine tilth, press it down toensure there are no air spaces, level the surface and firm up theedges. Water well.

After two to three weeks lightly cultivate the top 15cm of soil oneach of the beds and remove all the weed seedlings. Drench thesoil with a recommended insecticide to control possible cutwormor cockchafer attack to the seedlings.

Raise a rim of soil 5cm-7cm high and wide around the edge of eachbed to prevent water run-off and consequent erosion.

On the planting day, check that the soil is moist enough so thatwhen squeezed it will crumble but not be so wet that it stickstogether.

To obtain an even spacing of seeds in the seedbed mark out therows where the seeds will be planted using strings. Two peopleshould work together to do this job effectively. The procedure is asfollows:

First, stretch six strings 15cm apart along the length of the bed at

soil level. This will leave about a 22cm gap between the outsidestrings and the edge of the bed.

Then, using a 1 m long stick, press it lengthwise lightly into the soilat right angles across the bed every 15cm down the length of thebed. This will make a series of parallel grooves across the bed.Sow seeds 1 -1.5cm deep flat side down at the point where eachstring and each groove crosses. Remove the strings once thecomplete bed has been sown and cover the seeds by gently rakingthe surface of the seedbed.

Mulch the surface of the bedwith thatching grass to a depth of 50mand water the bed using a watering can with a fine rose.

Erect shade at a convenient height (about 70cm above the groundat high altitude and 1.1 m at low altitude) over each bed. The seedswill germinate in 6 - 12 weeks depending on altitude and season.

WATER SEEDS WELL IMMEDIATELY AFTER MULCHING



8

technical note

farmers' note


There are both advantages and disadvantages of using the bare rootnursery technique.

Choose a dark coloured polythene because it deteriorates lessquickly than white under the adverse weather condition in thenursery. Keep to the recommended sizes because when the bagis narrower or shorter than that recommended, seedlings candevelop twisted and/or poorly developed roots.

Cut the roll into individual tubes. Keep all the tubes from one rolltogether and do not mix the cut tubes with those from other rolls asthe diameter of the tubing indifferent rolls can vary slightly. If tubescut from different rolls are mixed these differences will createdifficulties when the filled bags are lined up in the nursery beds.

The soil mix for the polytubes will depend on the availability of thei ngredients in the locality of the nursery. The best soil is forest topsoil alone. However, to extend the available supply of top soilaround the nursery, mix the top soil in the following ratio:•

4 parts top soil, with,•

2 parts compost; and,•

1 part river sand.


9

1.8. Polytube Method of

This method of growing seedlings consists of sowing the seedsSeedling Production

directly in polytubes of prepared soil.

The following size of polythene tube is recommended:•

width (when laid flat) 16cm•

length 22cm•

thickness 0.06mm


Sow one seed in the centre of each bag 1-1.5cm deep and flat sidedown. Cover the seed with soil. Mulch the surface of the bags aftersowing with 5cm depth of thatching grass and water them.

Construct shade over each bed at the height described in Section1.7.


,1 0.

I f compost is not available, use well rotted animal manure ordecomposed coffee husks or pulp instead. Do not use fresh coffeepulp or coffee husks in the soil mix.

1.9. Preparing a Polytube

Mark the beds out as described in Section 1.6. In a new nurseryNursery

site, the top 15cm of soil in the beds can be used as the top soil inthe mix described above.

To avoid moving a lot of soil, dig out and transport the 15cm of topsoil from the first bed to an area alongside the last bed. The firstbed is then free of soil and can be forked to a depth of 20cm, rakedand levelled off. This will improve drainage.

The beds for the polytubes should be edged with lengths of wood(gum tree poles or bamboo are ideal forth is). Also, divide the bedswith wooden cross spacers at intervals of about two metres alongthe length of the bed. This will stop the tubes falling over.

The first batch of polytubes are filled with soil from the second bedi n the block in a ratio with the other ingredients described above.Stack the filled polytubes in rows of 10 across the first bed, makingsure that each row of tubes is straight. When the first bed is filledwith tubes, over half the top soil in the second bed should have allbeen used up, and the bed can then be prepared for polytubes asbed number 1.

Bed number2 is filled with soil from bed number3 and the processcontinues in this manner until the whole block is completed. Thepolytubes from the final bed of the block are filled with the soilwhich had been transported from the first bed.

If the top soil has already been used, collect forest soil, compostand sand as recommended above. Make sure the ingredients areslightly moist so theywill mix together easilywithout making a dust.Press the soil mix firmly into the bags.

A bed 1 Om long will provide 1,000 seedlings for field planting.

farmers' note

1.10. Maintenance ofBareroot andpolytubeSeedlings


I n the first week after sowing, water the nursery beds twice a dayif it does not rain. After that, water the beds every morning. Usea watering can with a fine rose so that the soil surface is neithercompacted nor washed away. Ensure that the beds never dry out.

I nspect the soil surface regularly. As soon as the seedlings startto emerge, carefully remove the mulch. This must be completedbefore the 'soldier stage' or else many seedlings will be damagedand killed during the removal of the mulch. Store this for use laterin the nursery or at planting time.

Keep the nursery beds/polytubes free of weeds. Lightly fork thesoil with a small hand fork or pointed stick.


- 1 1

technical note


Maintain the fences, drains and paths and cut back all the weedsin the nursery area. Do not use chemical herbicide to control theweeds; spray drift might damage and even kill the seedlings.Maintain the overhead shade and ensure that it doesn't deteriorate.

I f the seedling beds have not been constructed East to West, theseedlings in the outer edge of the most western bed will requireshading from the afternoon sun.

SEEDLINGS AT 'SOLDIER' STAGE SOON AFTER GERMINATION

When the seedlings have 2 pairs of true leaves, remulch betweenthe seedlings with a 5cm layer of chopped thatching grass.

Water the beds regularly and do it either in the morning or in theafternoon not in the middle of the day. As the seedlings grow, thequantity of water applied should be sufficient to penetrate belowthe root tip. Inspect the bottom of one or two polytubes to ensurethe soil is moist and excavate the soil at different places in barerootnursery beds to make sure enough water is being applied.

I f the soil of the nursery bed or the potting mixture includedfarmyard manure or phosphate fertiliser no top dressing is re-quired. Otherwise, apply fertiliser when the seedlings have 2-3pairs of true leaves.

Apply DAP at the rate of 2 - 3g per polytube or 80g per metre lengthof nursery bed. Apply the fertilizer before watering so that thefertilizer does not stick to the wet leaves.

Coffee and Tea Development and Marketing Authority, March 1995 1 2

coffee Arun" y MWanag

•

At an early stage the seedling may develop a stem rot near thesurface of the soil and fall over;

•

At the four leaf stage the seedling may remain alive and standingbut the stem becomes girdled and the plant is stunted, eventuallydying; or,

•

Rootlets of larger seedlings are attacked, the plants becomestunted and eventually die.

` Damping off can be controlled by the removal of the mulch, whichwill allow the seedbeds to dry out, plus the application of copperfungicide. Read the label and follow the recommended dosagerate.

Symptoms resembling `damping off are also produced by unfa-vourable environmental conditions in the seedbed. Drying winds,


1 3

SMALL-SCALE NURSERY BEDS CONSTRUCTED ALONG THE CONTOUR

I f the leaves are yellow and showing symptoms of nitrogendeficiency, spray the seedlings with urea solution at the rate of 40gdissolved in 20 litres of water. Spray sufficient to thoroughly wetthe leaves to run-off. Give three applications at two week intervals.

1.11. Disease Control

The most common and destructive pathogens are those causing` damping off'. They occur at different stages in seedling growth.


high soil temperature or high concentrations of salts in the upperlayers of the soil can cause injuries to the tender stems of theseedlings near soil levei.

Brown Eye Spot (Cercospera coffeicola) and Coffee Leaf Rust(Hemileia vastatrix) can cause serious defoliation in the nursery.Eye Spot is usually found with neglected and poorly managedseedlings grown in the sun under weedy conditions. Shade shouldbe increased, all weeds removed and copper fungicide applied.Coffee Leaf Rust symptoms and control methods are described inSection 7.7.

?- nsect Pest Control The grey to brownish caterpillars of Cutworm (Agrotis segetum)can cause considerable damage in nurseries by cutting the leavesof the seedlings or eating the stems at ground level. By day thepests hide in the soil near their hosts. At night they emerge on thenursery soil surface to feed. Control the pest by applying suitablepesticides to the soil surface before sowing and after seed germi-nation if damage is observed. Read the label and follow therecommended dosage rate.

1.13. Seedling

The seedlings will be ready to be transplanted when they have 5-Acclimatisation 7 pairs of leaves. More than 7 pairs results in higherthan average

field mortality. The optimum time is likely to be when the seedlingsare 8 - 9 months old.

Therefore, at 16 weeks from the expected date of transplanting tothe field, that is at 4-5 months after sowing, start to thin the shadecover of the nursery to harden off the seedlings. Remove onequarter of the shade density each month. Do not replace the shadeat night. The seedlings should be completely exposed to the fullsun for 4 weeks before transplanting.

I f there is no rain during these four weeks, water the beds in themornings to compensate for moisture loss due to exposure to thefull sunlight.

Over-grown seedlings, i.e. those taller than 50cm, should be cutback to 35 - 40cm two months before transplanting. Use a markerstick to ensure that the seedlings are pruned to the correct height.

I nspect the seedlings regularly and remove any small, spindly ormisshapen seedlings. If there is any sign of disease or pest attackseek expert advice immediately on preventative measures.

1.14. Selection of

I nspect the seedlings in the nursery before transplanting time andSeedlings

discard any that are weak, damaged, stunted or have diseasesymptoms.

Coffee and Tea Development and Marketing Authority, March 1995 14

technical note

Burn the discarded seedlings and do not use any of the polytubesoil that these have grown in for future sowing.

Remember, if your farmers plant weak seedlings, they will haveweak plants of low productivity in the coming years giving lowreturns.


1.15. Preparation of

All seedlings should be well watered the day before lifting andSeedlings for

transplanting.Transplanting

Lifting Bareroot Seedlings

Lift barerooted seedlings in the morning and only lift enough for thatday's planting. Do this carefullywith a digging fork. Workfrom theend of the bed and support the seedlings as they are lifted; do not


1 5

technical note



just pull them out of the soil. This will help to ensure that you do notbreak the young rootlets or damage the tap root in any way.

Any plants with bent, twisted or forked roots should be discarded.Tap roots should be trimmed back if they are disproportionatelylong, i.e. if the taproot is longer than the length of stem. If the roottip is slightly damaged prune back this portion.

As soon as they are lifted, tie the seedlings together with string inbundles of 10. Put 10 bundles into a wet hessian sack. Lay themflat on the bed of the trailer/lorry and cover with extra wet sacks.

Keep the seedlings moist during transport to the field by wateringthe sacking. This will require carrying a container of water on thevehicle.

Lifting Polytube Seedlings

Four weeks before transplanting polytube seedlings, undercuteach tube with a sharp knife or secateurs to sever the tap rootwhich has grown through into the soil below the tube.

Although polytube seedlings look easy to handle they should betreated with care. Never carry a seedling in a polytube by the plantstalk, never throw the polytube up onto a vehicle and always keepthe polytube upright.

Polytube seedlings should be stacked in wooden crates directly inthe nursery. The crates should be constructed with sides 15cmhigh. Ensure that the seedlings are kept in the shade at all times.Use covered trailers and construct simple shaded storage areas inthe planting field.

SUPPLY SEEDLINGS FOR REPLACEMENT PLANTING

Remember you will need a supply of seedlings to replacethose that die in the field soon after they have been transplanted.

Bareroot seedlings: Retain the 20°r% supply of seedlings: inthe nursery for 2 months after transplanting. Inspect theleid regularly. Replace anythat die in the field during thistime. Lift, transport and transplant as described above.

Polytube seedlings: Transport. to the field 10% moreseedlings than you need. Store them in a shaded place inthe corner of the field where they can be watered regularly.

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Documents

Ethiopian Coffee Handbook P1