Coffee plants require a balanced supply of major, secondary and micronutrients for physiological processes, yield and quality. Nutrient demand is particularly high from post-flowering to berry expansion, when the plant supports both the current crop and new wood for the following harvest. Indian coffee is predominantly cultivated in acidic, well-drained lateritic soils, where deficiencies of secondary nutrients such as Magnesium (Mg) and Sulphur (S), and micronutrients such as Zinc (Zn) and Boron (B), are prevalent.

Recent soil surveys by the Division of Soil Science & Agricultural Chemistry, CCRI, indicate deficiencies of Mg (Karnataka: 54%; India: 64%), S (Karnataka: 42%; India: 39%), Zn (Karnataka: 52%; India: 11.3%) and B (Karnataka: 32–36%; India: 35%). To address these nutrient deficiencies, the Research Department of the Coffee Board has developed “CCRI Coffee Special”, a crop-specific, ready-to-use, single multi-nutrient formulation containing secondary nutrients (Mg & S), micronutrients (Zn, B & Mo) and the beneficial element Silicon (Si), for foliar application in both Arabica and Robusta coffee.