coffee growing and coffee tree

This final stage in the life of the coffee plant can be identified by a grandual degeneration of the shoot system, and a serious fall in production, accompanied by the death of the root system. This usually takes place at a fairly advanced stage in the life of the plantation, depending on the way in which it is run and the care taken in its maintenance.
In commercial production, it is estimated that a coffee plant  is no longer viable after 25 to 30 year of intensive cultivation, when the production costs will no longer be sufficiently offset by the reduced size of the crop. However, with good tree management, coffee can still be economically viable at over 100 year of age.

On a family plantation, under shade, with lower production levels this poor production phase may be prolonged, especially in a fertile soil and in the absence of serious damage to plant health.

It is therefore necessary to make sure that, in coffee growing, biological longevity is not confused with economic longevity.Favourable environmental condition and proper maintenance are likely,to some extent,to narrow the gap between them.

This is brought about by insects such as beens and ants, the wind and gravity, particularly in the case of the arabicas when the pollen from the flowers on the upper branches falls onto the stigmata of the flowers on the lower branches.
Pollen has a relatively short life (three to four days under normal conditions). This life can be extended by keeping the pollen in a cool, dry place, in a glass or plastic container.