Coffee

It actively participates in the growth of the plant, in the increase of vegetation with greater development of plagiotropic branches, leaf formation, expansion of the leaf area, formation of flower buds, promoting even greater photosynthetic activity by increasing chlorophyll and greater production of carbohydrates necessary for fruiting. 

Deficiency – It starts in the older leaves, which present uniform chlorosis, with yellowing, including the veins, progressing to necrosis and leaf fall. 

Plants are left with few leaves and or with smaller leaves than normal with smaller fruits, which are easily detached from the plants. It harms flowering and, in plants with a productive load, can cause the drying of branches.

It acts in the development of the root system and aerial part of the plant, formation of the wood and graining of the fruits, also influencing the synthesis and storage of energy.

Deficiency – Starts with the older leaves, which change color at the tip and in the middle, starting with a yellowish tinge and evolving to purplish brown.

Inverted V-shaped necrosis is quite characteristic. There may also be less plant growth and poorly developed roots.

It actively acts in photosynthetic activities, respiration, circulation of sap in the plant, participates in the formation of starch in the leaves and contributes to the graining phase of the fruits. 

Deficiency – Starts on the leaves with a yellowing at the tips and margins that evolves to brown. In the necrotic area it is possible to find a small yellow outline. Potassium-deficient fruits tend to be light and flat.

It acts directly on the growth and development of the root system and on structures such as plant branches, development and retention of floral structures and fruit maturation.

Deficiency – Appears on young leaves, with yellowing that can progress between the veins towards the center of the leaves, but the veins remain green. Terminal bud death of young plants may occur.

It participates in the constitution of chlorophyll with an effect on the photosynthetic process and contribution to energy metabolism, helps the absorption of phosphorus and participates in the formation of carbohydrates in the plant.

Deficiency – It starts in the older leaves, with yellowing between the veins, which differs from nitrogen deficiency. 

It reduces the rate of photosynthesis, which leads to low plant growth and impacts on productivity. It usually appears at fruit maturation when the plant has a high pending load.

It is a constituent of proteins and amino acids, is present in several metabolic functions, participates in the synthesis of chlorophyll and is important in the development of the root system.

Deficiency – It appears in the youngest leaves, with a very light green color tending to yellow, evolving to a generalized chlorosis throughout the plant, which can lose the leaves and the plant has its growth impaired.

Component of chlorophyll and participates in the respiration process.

Among the micronutrients, the most accumulated by the coffee tree, not because of a metabolic requirement, but because of its high availability in the soils, where coffee plantations are located. 

Deficiency – Occur in pairs of young leaves, which turn yellow with the veins remaining green, forming a fine green lattice. In the rainy and hot period, when there is a rapid expansion of the leaf, imbalance is also common, but the tendency is to disappear with time. Symptoms can also appear after drastic pruning. In heavily drained soils, iron can turn into a form that plants cannot absorb. In coffee seedlings, due to excess of organic matter in the substrate, waterlogging and lack of light, these can also be deficient.

It participates in photosynthesis and can replace magnesium in several enzymes, with excessive liming and a high content of organic matter, it can cause problems that affect coffee foliage. 

 Deficiency – Starts on new leaves, with light green interveinal regions tending to yellow.

It acts in the synthesis of hormones responsible for plant growth. 

 It can limit coffee production as it also plays an important role in pollen tube germination, influencing flowering set and fruit size. 

Deficiency – Appears on developing leaves, which become narrow and twisted. The veins develop beyond normal. It also impacts the development of internodes, which together with the small leaves end up grouping together and forming a tuft. Plants deficient in zinc (Zn) can lose leaves when heavily loaded.

It participates in the respiration and oxidation processes, influences the formation of new leaves of young plants and helps in the defense of diseases.

Deficiency – It starts in new leaves, where the secondary veins become protruding, with the appearance of “ribs”. The leaves can curl and curve down, a symptom that is commonly called “zebu ear”.

It actively acts on the coffee plant growth buds and mainly on the flower fertilization process, reducing their abortion.

It participates in the division and growth of plant cells together with Calcium. 

Deficiency – It can cause the death of the apical buds of the branches and the apex of the coffee tree, the plants present an excess of sprouts of several other buds, resembling a broom. Symptoms appear in the youngest parts, the leaves become small, twisted and with wrinkled edges. It can cause flower drop and loss of productivity.