The experiment was carried out at "Água Limpa" Farm, University of Brasilia. The objective was to evaluate growth of IAPAR-59 and Obatã cultivars using five drip irrigation levels, during the crop of the first year and to study soil water management. It was used a randomized complete block design for the irrigation factor, with the cultivar factor as a split plot on irrigation and the factor time in days after transplanting (dat) as a split plot on cultivar. The five irrigation levels were 20; 40 and 60 kPa, established using tensiometers; Irrigas system with soil water tension defined by its sensor; and no irrigation. Growth variables evaluated were leaf area index, leaf number, steam diameter, plant height and plagiotropic branches number. At 316 dat irrigated treatments had similar type of growth but they were significantly higher than the non-irrigated one. Irrigas system has proved to be an option for an adequate water management with null maintenance. IAPAR-59 and Obatã cultivars had significant differences with all growth variable evaluated favoring the last one.
coffea arabica; soil water management; Irrigas system
