Limitation of Relative Transpiration and Growth of Arabic Coffee in Response to Water Deficit

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the limitation of transpiration and growth of arabica coffee plants as a function of the reduction of water availability through the methodology of the fraction of transpirable soil water (FTSW). The study was conducted in a greenhouse of the Center of Agrarian Sciences and Engineering of the Federal University of Espírito Santo, located in the municipality of Alegre, Espírito Santo State, Brazil, with coordinates 20º45' S, 41º32' W and altitude of 269.0 m, in a factorial scheme 3x2, being the period of induction of the water deficit in three periods (P1= at 45 days after planting, P2= at 75 days after planting and P3= at 105 days after planting) and replenishment of water in the soil on two treatments (T0- without water deficit and Td-water deficit induced until the plants reach 10% of the relative transpiration of the T0 treatment), in a completely randomized design with eight repetitions. The following variables were evaluated: relative transpiration (RT), mean leaf area (MLA) and mean plant height (MPH). It was concluded that the younger the plants are subjected to water deficit, the more sensitive they are to the effects of the phenomenon, and the first variable to be affected by the deficit is MPH. With the plant's maturation, there was a gradual gain of resistance, which in some cases resulted in responses between treatments statistically equal.