Effects of planting hole size and manure rates on yield of Arabica coffee hybrids at establishment in Kenya

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.