Soil sustains most living organisms and it is the main source of mineral nutrients required by plants, making sustainable soil management essential for food production. This is especially important when it comes to coffee, given that this beverage is consumed by millions across the world, and soil management can influence the quality of coffee beans and their taste.
In fact, did you know that, in the past year, approximately, 167 million bags of coffee were consumed around the world? That’s almost 2.5 billion cups of coffee being brewed each day. This isn’t a shock given that many people rely on caffeine to get out of bed in the morning and have a productive day.
Very few people are actually aware of the manual and environmental effort that goes into producing such a hefty supply. Farmers in coffee-producing countries have to deal with an array of challenges such as dry climates, pest infestations, and nutrient imbalances that threaten the yield and quality of your morning beverage.
Luckily, a large percentage of these problems can be tackled by good soil management. In this article, we’ll present to you the incredible influence soil quality has on coffee production and how investing in proper management practices can ensure its continued excellence. Keep on reading!
Water Supply
One study published by the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education asserted that it takes approximately 14 buckets of water to produce one cup of coffee. This statistic highlights how vital water is for coffee production as it impacts its growth and survival rate. One leading factor that influences how much water the plant has access to is the quality of its soil bed.
During rainy seasons, water accumulates in the soil so that during dry seasons, the soil can act as a stable water supply. This is only possible if the soil is properly managed because poorly kept soil is less porous and, in turn, unable to retain water for long periods.
Moreover, when the soil is arid, it tightly holds onto any moisture that’s present which prevents the plant from extracting it. This can cause drought-like stress for the plant. On the other hand, too much water in the soil is harmful as well. Highly saturated soil can restrict how much oxygen the plant has access to as well as permanently damage its roots.
The ideal soil is one that can strike the perfect balance between these two scenarios. Optimal rainfall and environmental circumstances have the most control over this, but due to climate change, we’re moving farther away from this possibility. If farmers adopt sustainable farming practices, they can likely protect soil from the adverse effects of climate change and, as a result, safeguard our global coffee supply.
Nutrient Intake
Another area where soil plays an influential role is the plant’s ability to absorb nutrients. Having an adequate supply of nutrients is essential for coffee production and any deficiency can significantly reduce yield. Not only are nutrients important for growth, but their combination and balance can drastically change coffee’s flavor and aroma.
For example, potassium influences the sugar and citric acidity of the coffee bean while nitrogen affects the total caffeine build. When some essential nutrients are missing, the coffee can taste quite “flat”, which is certainly a concern if you’re a devoted caffeine enthusiast. So now you may be wondering: what is soil’s role in all of this?
The soil’s pH level affects how easily the plant’s roots can absorb these necessary nutrients. This is known as “cation exchange” and it depends on soil texture and organic matter content to function.
As you may expect, both of these qualities are directly correlated with proper soil management. This includes appropriate fertilizer application, recycling organic waste, minimization of tilling, and many other practices that we’ve detailed in previous articles.
Similar to moisture level for water supply, the soil needs to balance acidity to provide a harmonious supply of nutrients to the plant. When the pH level is low, the nutrients are tightly bound in the soil and can’t be absorbed by the plant.
Meanwhile, when the pH is high, the soil becomes extremely attractive to bacteria, which will eat up all of its organic matter and deplete the nutrient source. One of the causes of this is excessive use of inorganic fertilizers, especially those that are high in salinity. When such fertilizers are applied recklessly, the soil’s acidity level can rise, and it can lose all its vital micronutrients.
However, knowing which fertilizers to use and how to apply them is definitely easier said than done. Some fertilizers that are rich in potassium, which is extremely beneficial for coffee plants, also include high chloride levels which can permanently damage the soil.
Good Soil Management and Coffee: Final Thoughts
Given these facts, it’s clear that sustaining coffee production means sustaining the quality of soil as well. Unfortunately, this is not a simple matter – climate change poses a major threat to soil and its ability to provide for the plant.
One example of this is higher temperatures making coffee farms more prone to pest infestations. Coffee is grown in high altitudes because this allows for proper nutrient absorption, but as the soil gets warmer, an insect known as Hypothenemus Hampei is beginning to make its way up to this elevation.
If the climate continues to worsen, this insect, also called the coffee borer beetle, can easily destroy coffee plantations around the world. In fact, East Africa alone bears an annual loss of $500 million due to the lost coffee harvest.
Another major problem is that many coffee farmers lack training in proper management practices. We may understand the importance of mindful fertilizer application, but it’s an entirely different project to educate farmers on its execution.
There’s also minimal investment being made in soil fertility management. Instead, scientists are more interested in genetic engineering technology to combat environmental pressures. We mustn’t forget the impact that simpler techniques, such as improving soil biodiversity, can have on soil preservation.
In fact, soil biodiversity can help increase crop resilience to climate extremes, pest and crop diseases. Moreover, these organisms can also reduce crop dependence on synthetic fertilizers. We can’t forget that soil is an integral resource for coffee growth, and other crops as well, and as its gratified consumers, it’s our responsibility to look after it.
Below there are some other articles that you might be interested in:
- Alternatives to Chloride Containing Fertilizers
- Soil Salinization Is a Growing Threat to Our Natural Resources
- The Guardians of Soil: How can Farmers Protect Soil Biodiversity?
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