GROWTH RESPONSE OF COFFEE (Coffea arabica L.) TO MYCORRHIZAL INOCULATION (Glomus sp.) DURING THE NURSERY STAGE

Abstract

Coffee is one of the most representative agricultural products of Colombia and worldwide, particularly in the Huila Department, due to its high production and excellent quality. As coffee is a crop of high economic value and is increasingly affected by the impacts of climate change, it is essential that the nursery stage contributes to improved crop development and resilience. In order to promote and encourage new practices among coffee growers in the region, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi inoculation (Glomus intraradices) in a coffee nursery located in the municipality of Hobo, Huila. The experiment included two treatments with different doses of a commercial liquid arbuscular mycorrhizal inoculant (Biofermex®), based on G. sp.: T1, with 5 cm³ L?¹ of water, and T2, with 10 cm³ L?¹ of water, as well as a non-inoculated control treatment (T0). Evaluations were conducted from 30 to 105 days after transplanting (DAT), assessing primary root length (PRL), number of secondary roots (NSR), stem diameter (SD), stem length (SL), total leaf area (TLA), and total dry mass (TDM). Statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance (ANOVA) and graphical methods, whereas a technical and economic assessment was carried out to compare production costs during the nursery period. The results showed that T1 and T2 presented statistically significant increases in NSR (44.4 and 27.4%) and TLA (84.5 and 24.7%) compared with the control. In addition, the implementation of temporary nurseries with appropriate mycorrhizal management resulted in 36.34% higher profitability compared with the purchase of seedlings from external nurseries.