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Twenty Years' Results from a Shade and Fertilizer Trial on Amazon Cocoa (Theobroma cacao) in Ghana

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 October 2008

Y. Ahenkorah ,
B. J. Halm ,
M. R. Appiah ,
G. S. Akrofi  and
J. E. K. Yirenkyi
Y. Ahenkorah
Affiliation:
Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG), PO Box 8, New Tafo-Akim, Ghana
B. J. Halm
Affiliation:
Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG), PO Box 8, New Tafo-Akim, Ghana
M. R. Appiah
Affiliation:
Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG), PO Box 8, New Tafo-Akim, Ghana
G. S. Akrofi
Affiliation:
Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG), PO Box 8, New Tafo-Akim, Ghana
J. E. K. Yirenkyi
Affiliation:
Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG), PO Box 8, New Tafo-Akim, Ghana
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Summary

The effects of three shade densities, NPK fertilizers and fertilizer-pest/disease relationship on Amazon cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) over a 20-year period are reported. Yields equivalent to the mean yield from the unfertilized plots were achieved in about 3, 4 and 6 years in fertilized plots under the no shade (S0), medium shade (S1) and heavy shade (S2) treatments, respectively. There were three growth phases, each characterized by a different yield trend. No appreciable changes in the exchangeable Ca and Mg were observed during the experiments, but K dropped to 68% of its initial value while the available P of the unfertilized and the S0 plots fell by 38%. Fertilizer recommendations for P and K should take account of overhead shade. The effect of N application was often negative. No direct relationship was observed between fertilizer treatment and the incidence of pest/blackpod/swollen shoot virus (SSV) disease of cocoa. SSV infection was greatest under S0. Cocoa farms in Ghana cannot maintain high yields (above 1000 kg dry cocoa ha−1) beyond 15 years of intensive cropping.

Type
Research Article
Information
Experimental Agriculture , Volume 23 , Issue 1 , January 1987 , pp. 31 - 39
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1987

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References

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