Efficacy of biofertilizers in improving the productivity of Arabica coffee in Andisols

Abstract

The productivity of Arabica coffee at Andisols in West Java is still relatively low. Andisols are soils with a high P retention capacity. One of the inputs to solve the problem is the application of phosphate-solubilizing microbes. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of biofertilizers in increasing the productivity of Arabica coffee in Andisols. The study used a randomized block design by the 10 treatments and 3 replications. Treatments consisted of control, solid form B1/microbial consortium 1 in zeolite+compost (30, 60, 90 g/tree), liquid form B2/microbial consortium 2 in PDB+molasses (30, 60, 90 ml/tree), and solid form B3/microbial consortium 2 in compost+biochar (30, 60, 90 g/tree). Microbial consortium 1 consisted of Rhodococcus qingshengii, Burkholderia ambifaria, and Aspergillus niger, while microbial consortium 2 consisted of Burkholderia cepacia, Pseudomonas migulae, Delftia lacustris, and Aspergillus sp. The results showed that formulas B1, B2, and B3 at a dose of 30 g or ml/tree significantly increase fruits weight and green coffee bean production, with an increase in green coffee bean production of 64, 62, and 55% respectively from the control. The three biofertilizer formulas have the potential to be used in Arabica coffee cultivation in Andisols.