ABSTRACT
From the time farmers plant coffee seeds, 3 to 5 years pass before the plant begins to produce coffee beans. Coffee producers must make major investments of time and resources for several years without any return, and then they must maintain the perennial crop. In the first 6 months, coffee seedlings need to grow in moist soil and usually do best under even shade. Some differences exist between the two main commercial species of coffee, Coffea arabica("arabica") and Coffea canephora ("robusta"). To ensure healthy growth, coffee plants need to have adequate water, nutrient-rich soil, and a temperate climate. Coffee farmers carefully select the sites for their seedbeds, nurseries, and plantations, paying attention to soils, wind exposure, temperature variability, water availability, topography, elevation, and risks of pests and diseases. The work to maintain coffee plantations continues throughout the year with weeding, fertilizing, observing plant development, and checking for signs of disease or infestations.
