Jm. Njoroge et Jk. Kimemia, Effects of planting hole size and manure rates on yield of Arabica coffee hybrids at establishment in Kenya, DIS INNOVAT, 11(1-2), 1999, pp. 65-68
A study was conducted to investigate the effect of planting hole size and c
attle manure rates of application for compact disease resistant Arabica cof
fee hybrids cv 'Catimor' and 'Ruiru 11' at contrasting sites in Kenya: Yiel
ds of clean coffee were significantly reduced by high cattle manure rates o
f application. However, coffee yields were not significantly affected by th
e size of the hole, except at Kirinyaga site where coffee yield increased s
ignificantly with increasing hole size. It was concluded that for good coff
ee establishment a hole size of not less than 30 x 30 x 30 cm would be adeq
uate and bigger hole sizes of more than 60 x 60 x 60 cm for poor soils coul
d be considered. Cattle manure should not constitute more than 50 % of the
hole refilling mixture which is one to two 20 litre tins for a hole of 45 t
o 60 cm in depth and breadth.