<![CDATA[Drought caused by climate phenomena such as El Niño is a major constraint in robusta coffee (Coffea canephora) production, as it reduces photosynthetic efficiency and plant growth. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of coffee husk biochar enriched with zinc (Zn) and silicon (Si) in improving the physiological and agronomic responses of robusta coffee seedlings under different irrigation intervals. The experiment was arranged in a two-factor factorial design, consisting of biochar doses (0–400 g polybag⁻¹) and irrigation intervals (1, 3, 5, and 7 days), using 60 plants with three replications. Destructive observations were conducted at 10 weeks after transplanting and included physiological, and agronomic parameters. The results showed that Zn- and Si-enriched biochar significantly affected most physiological responses of robusta coffee seedlings, except proline content. Agronomic responses generally showed no significant interaction, although root dry weight and leaf area were significantly influenced by single factors. A high biochar dose (400 g polybag⁻¹) was identified as the most effective treatment for optimizing physiological and agronomic performance, while a 5-day irrigation interval (moderate drought stress) was the most suitable watering condition. The application of Zn- and Si-enriched coffee husk biochar has potential as a drought mitigation strategy in robusta coffee nursery ]]>
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