Coffee Seedlings in Forestry Tubes

Coffee Seedlings in Forestry Tubes

Summary

This project involves nursery production and transplanting of coffee seedlings in Puerto Rico. It seeks to reduce environmental damages of topsoil mining and reduce labor costs involved with transplanting coffee by using soil less potting mixes in a tube system that is currently in use in forestry enterprises in the US such as Weyerhaeuser Company. These same concepts will also be applied in the production of the related citrus crops that are used in the integrated agro forestry production system.

Objectives/Performance Targets

*Reduce the amount of soil used.
*Reduce the amount of water used.
*Reduce labor cost.

Accomplishments/Milestones

• Materials were bought and received.
• Tables were built.
• Irrigation system was installed.
• Potting mixes were made and and containers filled.
• 17,000 plants were planted.
• Plants are growing as planed.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

The project is in the process of observation and evaluation of:
• Germination rates
• Disease and insect problems