Research on coffee nutrition began in 1898 to support the improvement of coffee cultivation. Pioneering contributions were made by A. Lehman, Y. N. Iyer, B. N. Iyengar, R. D. Anstead, D. G. Munro, and B. T. Narayana. A soil testing laboratory was established in 1958 to study soil fertility and nutritional requirements under different agro-climatic conditions. These efforts led to the establishment of the Division of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry in 1985. The Division conducts research on soil fertility & nutrient management across diverse agro-climatic conditions, advocates Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) practices, soil fertility mapping, agro-chemical analysis, and scientific nutrient recommendations for coffee cultivation.

Key initiatives include developing soil health maps, foliar nutrition packages, and the “KSHEMAM” portal for generating soil health cards. The Division also undertakes research on nano fertilizers, long-term fertilizer trials, and organic amendments. Through mobile soil testing campaigns, the Division provides farmers with instant lime recommendations, supporting sustainable and efficient coffee production.