This section comprises of soil fertility and plant Nutrition, Radios topes, Pesticides/Analytical, coffee Liquoring or quality and Coffee processing/Machinery Testing Units.

Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition Unit

It does research on soil condition and nutrients that limit coffee production in the various coffee growing areas in Kenya extent of substitution of fertilizers of organic manures achievable with reasonable yields and quality gains Regional responses of coffee to different rates of nitrogen fertilizers Use of coffee processing wastes as alternative of organic manures for coffee. Effect of calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) fertilizer on incidence and control of Coffee Berry Disease

Pesticide Analytical Unit

It does research on; The short and long term effect of continuous application of copper based fungicides on soil, tissue (root, branch and leaf) and bean copper levels and possible soil depth or rivers through run-off. Accumulation of other heavy metals in the coffee bean ( an eventual hazard should it occur). Other pesticide residues in the coffee beans

Coffee quality Unit

It carries out :- Research on known quality factors with emphasis on their relationship to plant Nutrition and method of coffee processing. Studies on the effect of agro-climatic zones on intensity of some quality factors. Research work to co-relate fertilizer use with coffee quality.

Coffee Processing and Machinery Unit
It caries out; Studies on coffee by-products with respect to preservation for storage and composting for manures. Research on utilization of coffee by-products to process useful industrial materials or as sources of cheaper fuel. Research into improving coffee processing through:§ Innovating components of the coffee processing plants and looking for more suitable alternatives of processing other than the wet method. § Critical analysis of the wet coffee processing to shorten the processing time, improve coffee factory capacity and hence lower the cost without affecting coffee quality. Evaluation of coffee machinery and equipment Pollution control studies by considering options of minimization of processing water and treatment of processing effluent