Coffee - Chlorosis
Symptoms
Leaves near the shoot tip lighten and show an even yellow – sometimes almost white - color. The discoloration occurs most quickly where the leaves receive direct sunlight. New growth is stunted and crops often suffer from premature leaf fall or fruit set.
Reasons
Nitrogen deficiency
Nitrogen deficiency made worse by
- Low or high pH soils
- Sandy or light soils (leaching
- ) Low organic matter
- Drought conditions
- High rainfall (leaching) or heavy irrigation
- Addition or high levels of non-decomposed organic matter/manure (eg straw)
- Fast growing crops
Nitrogen is important for
- Major role in various growth processes
- Productive vegetative growth, large number of flowers and high yields
