Effect of Organic Matter from Coffee Pulp Compost on Yield Response of Chickpeas (cicer Arietinum L.) in Ethiopia

The influence of coffee pulp organic matter as a substrate for the growth of chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.) was compared with substrates of diverse origins to increase soil organic carbon and provide the basis for the use of the organic coffee by-product for the production of legumes in the tropical arable cultivation condition of Ethiopia. Four kinds of substrates, namely topsoil (Treatment I), topsoil + animal manure compost (Treatment II), topsoil + pine sawdust compost (Treatment III), and topsoil + coffee pulp compost (Treatment IV) were used as the matrixes in the experiment to observe the dynamic growth and development of C. arietinum L. The emergence and growing speed of the plant in Treatment I was delayed (12.89 ± 1.17 days, p < 0.006) compared with other treatments; and in Treatment IV, C. arietinum L. emerged fastest (10.89 ± 1.27 days, p < 0.006) and produced larger biomass. The final product: the plant height, fresh, and dry biomass weight in the Treatment II and IV were better than those of the other treatments. The largest plant fresh weight (46.08 ± 0.92 grams, p < 0.001) and dry weight (14.69 ± 0.9 grams, p < 0.001) appeared in Treatment II and the smallest fresh weight (31.18 ± 1.47 grams, p < 0.001), a 67.7 % reduction and dry weight (8.62 ± 1.33 grams, p < 0.001), a 58.7 % reduction was observed in Treatment I. The mixture of the existing topsoil + animal manure, topsoil + coffee pulp compost, topsoil + sawdust compost could be used in the C. arietinum L. production. The most appropriate choice of C. arietinum L. cultivation and organic carbon sequestration under the tropical condition is the existing topsoil + manure compost followed by arable soil + coffee pulp compost.