Water movement in coffee seedlings (Coffea arabica L.) : Evaluation of various resistances.

Various resistances through the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum were measured in order to find which resistance is mainly responsible for the low leaf water potential reported in coffee plants, especially when water supply is plentiful. Roots appeared to offer a major resistance in this pathway. At least under the experimental conditions mentioned here soil did not offer much resistance.It has been suggested that to complete the picture of various resistances further work should be carried out at different soil moisture levels and hours of the day.