For coffee, soil depth should be at least 1-2 meters to allow the tap root development and ensure the necessary water supply to the plants during the dry spell of the year. Soils where the water table however, is permanently high should not be used for planting coffee. The water table shall be at least 1.5 - 2.0 meters below the soil surface. Soils which are constantly subject to flooding should be avoided as coffee tree roots are easily suffocated. Badly drained soils or heavy soils with excessive clay content are not good for coffee cultivation. In areas with very low average annual rainfall or a long dry season, sandy, rocky or heavily laterized soils with poor water retention are also not suitable for coffee.