Produtividade do cafeeiro conilon conduzido com a poda programada de ciclo e diferentes populações de hastes

There has been great advances in technologies for the conilon coffee in Espírito Santo State in recent years, however, the adequacy of cultivation density and the pruning management is still a challenge needing research. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the crop yield of conilon coffee cultivated with the programmed pruning cycle (PPC) at different spacings, maintaining a default number of stems per plant. The experiment was conducted at the Experimental Farm of Marilândia (Incaper), northern state of Espírito Santo, following a randomized block design. The yield was evaluated in four treatments: Treatment T1 – 2.0 x 1.0 m, with 3 stems per plant, resulting in 15,000 stems per hectare; Treatment T2 – 2.5 x 1.0 m, with 3 stems per plant, resulting in 12,000 stems per hectare; Treatment T3 – 3.0 x 1.0 m, with 3 stems per plant, resulting in 10,000 stems per hectare; and Treatment T4 – 3.0 x 1.5 m, with 3 stems per plant, resulting in 6,667 stems per hectare. The evaluations were performed in the years 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011, in a split-plot in time, with four replications. The experimental plot was composed of eleven plants. The results show that, under normal water supply, the increased crop density, associated with the programmed pruning cycle, has a positive effect on the yield of conilon coffee plantations.