With the objective of proposing a new approach to estimate the crop coefficient (Kc) for coffee, a field experiment was carried out at the Crop Production Department of ESALQ, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, Brazil (latitude: 22º43'30"S, longitude: 47º38'00"W and altitude 580 m). The method was based on the estimates of crop transpiration as function of weather and crop variables (plant density, leaf area and weeds management). The cultivar Mundo Novo IAC 388-17 grafted on the cultivar Apoatã IAC 2258 was planted on the spacing of 2.5 m x 1.0 m (4,000 plants.ha-1). From 15 to 40 months of age, at intervals of 60 to 150 days, crop water consumption was estimated through a water balance procedure, assuming a uniform water status of the crop. Leaf area of two plants was assessed in 18 occasions during the experimental period, using the equipment LI-COR 3100 (Lambda Corporation, NE, USA). The values of Kc had a dynamic behavior with the increase of the transpiring surface as a function of leaf area and planting density. The presence of weed caused increases on Kc up to 30 months after planting. Comparing the values of Kc available in the literature to the ones obtained in this work, the present approach provided consistent results, with the advantage of allowing the simulation of other planting density conditions within the limit of 4,000 plants.ha-1 evaluated.
Coffea arabica L.; evapotranspiration; leaf area; plant density; weeds
