The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the application of sewage sludge (LE) in a commercial coffee crop on the quality of the beverage as evaluated by the activity the enzyme of polyphenoloxidase (PPO) and sensory analysis. The work was carried out under commercial field conditions at the Santa Eliza Farm, Patrocínio Paulista, State of São Paulo, Brazil, in 2001 and 2002 with coffee cultivar Acaiá, groupped in six treatments according to the dose and frequency of application of the sewage sludge. All plots received mineral fertilization according to soil analysis and to the different treatments as follow: treatment 1: plots B2, B3, B4 and B5, without sludge; treatment 2: plots C5 and C6, 9.0 t ha-1 of LE (1998), 4.8 t ha-1 (1999) ,11.8 t ha-1 (2000) and 4.2 t ha-1 (2002); treatment 3: plots D5 and D6, 9.0 t ha-1 of LE (1998), 4.8 t ha-1 (1999), 11.8 t ha-1 (2000) and 4.2 t ha-1 (2002); treatment 4: plots E1 and E2, 9.0 t ha-1 of LE (1998) and 4.2 t ha-1 (2002); treatment 5: plots E3 and E4, 9.0 t ha-1 of LE (1998), 4.8 t ha-1 (1999) and 4.2 t ha-1 (2002); treatment 6: plots H1, H2, H3, H4 and H5, 22.4 t ha-1 (1999). Visual analysis of the beans was performed regarding to type and size. Beverage quality was evaluated by cup test and by PPO activity. Sewage sludge had no effect on the quality of the beverage. There was low agreement between the classifications obtained according to PPO activity and that of the cup test for the two years.
Coffea arabica; polyphenoloxidase (PPO)
