The typical coffee farm applies ~ 200 kg/ha of synthetic nitrogen each year, an excessive amount I worked with this farm to phase out synthetic N and cut a total of 195,000 kgs of annual applications The trees are healthier, higher yielding, and the coffee tastes better...
Synthetic N made up 80% of the fertility budget and diverted resources away from key nutrients like Ca, Mg, and trace minerals. With the price of synthetic N skyrocketing over the past few years, this is a huge saving allowing for more profit and on-farm innovation
N is now supplied more efficiently with a small amount of quality compost, biostimulants, nitrogen-fixing ground covers and shade trees, and minerals that synergize N cycling As verified with sap and tissue analysis, the trees' N levels are perfectly in range
Overall yields have increased, primarily from improved disease resistance. The main cause of yield loss on most coffee farms is disease and pest pressure. Nutritionally balanced coffee trees are more resistant to disease and pests