Introduction
Table of Contents
After many years of production, Vietnam’s coffee trees gradually age, causing yields and bean quality to decline. Coffee remains one of the most valuable crops for farmers, especially ethnic communities in the Central Highlands. Over the next decade, about 137,000 hectares—27.4% of the nation’s coffee area—must be replanted, including over 100,000 hectares of old, low-yield coffee in the Central Highlands.
Vietnam’s coffee industry has expanded rapidly in area, yield, and output, but this growth has focused on quantity over quality, leaving many plantations with exhausted trees that threaten sustainable production. Replanting is now essential for the industry’s long-term development.
Why Replanting Is Essential?
Replanting does not always mean clearing every tree and starting from seed. Traditional sowing often leaves 15–20% of trees unproductive, and removing old plants is expensive.
Grafting: A Practical Alternative
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Grafting high-yielding scions onto old coffee rootstocks allows farmers to rejuvenate their plantations more quickly.
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Newly planted coffee requires about three years to bear fruit, while grafted trees can produce over 1 ton/ha by the second year and 2–3 tons/ha from the third year onward.
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Ordinary trees yield about 15 kg of cherries, poor trees only about 5 kg, but grafted trees can reach 20 kg.
Expert Guidelines for Coffee Replanting
At the National Agricultural Extension Forum on “Coffee Replanting and Sustainable Development” in mid-November, experts shared these key steps:
1. Soil Preparation
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Uproot all old coffee plants using heavy machinery.
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Remove trunks, branches, leaves, and roots from the field.
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Plow and harrow to eliminate remaining roots.
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Plant cover crops such as legumes for a few years to improve soil fertility.
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Dig new planting holes in January–February, offset from previous positions, at 3 m x 3 m spacing (about 1,100 plants/ha). Use an excavator to dig 1 m deep, 0.8 m wide holes—avoid augers that compact the sides.
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Leave holes and soil exposed for 1–2 months.
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In April, as rains begin, fill holes with composted coffee husks and topsoil, adding:
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0.2 kg phosphate,
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2 kg bio-fertilizer, and
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Trichoderma inoculant.
Mix well and leave until soil moisture is adequate for planting.
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Before planting, treat soil with nematicide and fungicide.
2. Variety Selection
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Choose high-yield, good-quality cultivars from the Western Highlands Agro-Forestry Science Institute or other certified sources.
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Suitable varieties for Lam Dong include TR4, TR9, TR11, TS1, TS3, and TS4.
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When raising seedlings, use large polybags (25 × 13 cm) to prevent taproots from hitting the bottom.
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Transplant seedlings when the seed just breaks the soil surface, before the first pair of true leaves forms.
3. Planting Techniques
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Transplant seedlings with four pairs of leaves using the “double planting” method.
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Cut the bottom of the bag to avoid taproot damage.
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Place the bag in the hole 20–30 cm above the bottom and tear off the base; remove the entire bag after 2–3 months to protect young roots from pests such as mole crickets.
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Plant temporary shade trees such as Cassia siamea, one row for every three rows of coffee.
4. Care and Fertilization
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Apply fertilizers several times a year, with an emphasis on bio-fertilizers.
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Use single-nutrient chemical fertilizers (N, P, K) according to the tree’s growth stage, rather than mixing them all at once.
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Compost coffee husks with Trichoderma for organic enrichment.
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Expand soil basins under the canopy in the first year to loosen soil and encourage root spread.
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Apply soil treatments to suppress soil-borne fungi and insects.
5. Windbreaks and Shade
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Plant temporary or permanent shade and windbreak trees such as durian or avocado to protect coffee plants and provide additional income.
6. Fertilizing, Irrigation, and Harvest
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Water when flower buds reach full development to induce a single, synchronized bloom; irrigate thoroughly in the first round.
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Harvest promptly when cherries ripen to prevent plant stress.
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Base fertilizer rates on leaf and soil analyses to match actual nutrient needs.
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Use modern, low-toxicity crop-protection products to reduce environmental impact.
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Apply growth stimulants to promote uniform flowering, fruit set, and ripening.
Conclusion
These integrated technical measures ensure coffee replanting is cost-effective and supports sustainable, high-yield production in Vietnam’s Central Highlands. By combining proper soil preparation, certified varieties, careful planting, and precise fertilization, farmers can revitalize old plantations and secure the future of Vietnam’s coffee industry.