A study case on coffee (Coffea arabica): Limu Coffe - IRD
A study case on coffee (Coffea arabica): Limu Coffe - IRD
A study case on coffee (Coffea arabica): Limu Coffe - IRD
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eighteen improved cultivars/varieties are grown in south western and western Ethiopia (not<br />
including local <strong>on</strong>es).<br />
C.<strong>arabica</strong> tree lives up to fifty years, thirty years productive, and can be twelve meters<br />
tall but is generally cut not to get taller than two to three meters in order to facilitate cultural<br />
practices and harvest. Its genotype is characterized by 2n=44 chromosomes; it is self-fertile<br />
and c<strong>on</strong>tains 0.8-1.7% of caffeine (Banttee, 1995). The <strong>Coffe</strong>e Producing Development<br />
Enterprise (2005) in charge of Ethiopian state farms provided them the following botanical<br />
descripti<strong>on</strong> in its <strong>coffee</strong> management manual:<br />
The root system c<strong>on</strong>sist of a short stout tap-root, rarely extending bey<strong>on</strong>d 45 cm, four<br />
to eight axial roots originating as laterals from the tap-root and going down vertically to two<br />
to three meters. Many laterals are found <strong>on</strong> the first foot of the soil and below them, the first<br />
and lower laterals ramify evenly and dive deeply in the soil.<br />
The shoot system has a prominent vertical stem with horiz<strong>on</strong>tal primary branches<br />
arising from it in pairs opposite to each other. These latter give rise to sec<strong>on</strong>dary laterals,<br />
which in turn produce tertiary and quaternary branches.<br />
Leaves are dark green. Each pair of leaves is approximately at right angles to the pair<br />
below. Just above the inserti<strong>on</strong> of each leaf <strong>on</strong> the vertical stem, a series of four to six buds<br />
may be found which give rise to a new vertical stem (sucker). Above these series, head of<br />
series bud develops into a horiz<strong>on</strong>tal branch. The serial buds <strong>on</strong> these branches develop into<br />
branches, inflorescence or remain undifferentiated.<br />
Illustrati<strong>on</strong> 1: <strong>Coffe</strong>e tree with unripe berries in<br />
Suntu State Farm, <strong>Limu</strong> Kosa woreda, Bossolasco,<br />
1 st July 2009)<br />
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