Hostname: page-component-745bb68f8f-lrblm Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-01-11T23:16:34.402Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Improving field establishment of cacao (Theobroma cacao) through mulching, irrigation and shading

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 January 2019

K. Acheampong ,
A. J. Daymond ,
P. Adu-Yeboah  and
P. Hadley
K. Acheampong*
Affiliation:
Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, P.O. Box 8, Tafo-Akim, Ghana
A. J. Daymond
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, The University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6AR, UK
P. Adu-Yeboah
Affiliation:
Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, P.O. Box 8, Tafo-Akim, Ghana
P. Hadley
Affiliation:
School of Agriculture, Policy and Development, The University of Reading, Whiteknights, Reading, RG6 6AR, UK
*
*Email: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Establishment of young cacao trees in West Africa can be severely impeded by the onset of the dry season. To address this issue, a field experiment was conducted in Ghana to examine whether different mulch treatments and irrigation applied during the dry season combined with overhead shade could improve survival, early growth and yield of cacao. The mulch treatments used were polyethylene film and coffee husks placed around the young plants. Irrigation was used as a positive control, and no mulching or irrigation was a negative control. Three shade regimes were provided through different arrangements of Gliricidia sepium and plantains. Four different cacao clones were used in the study in a replicated split-plot design. Early growth of cacao was stimulated under the irrigation and plastic mulch treatments. Higher rates of photosynthesis during the dry season appeared to underlie these increases. Significantly higher early yields were also observed under the irrigation and coffee mulch treatments compared with the control. Plant survival varied significantly between treatments; irrigation was associated with the highest plant survival (94%), followed by the plastic mulch treatment (91%), coffee husk (82%) and the control (70%). There was also an increase in survival when more intense shading was used. Under zero mulch conditions, differences in survival were observed between clones. The clones P 30 [POS] and SCA 6 were more sensitive to drought (in terms of survival) than PA 150 and T 79/501. It is concluded that relatively simple mulching techniques or controlled irrigation in conjunction with appropriate shade management can significantly improve early establishment and cropping of cacao.

Keywords

Field establishment of cacao
Type
Research Article
Information
Experimental Agriculture , Volume 55 , Issue 6 , December 2019 , pp. 898 - 912
Copyright
© Cambridge University Press 2019 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Acheampong, K., Hadley, P. and Daymond, A.J. (2013). Photosynthetic activity and early growth of four cacao genotypes as influenced by different shade regimes under West African dry and wet season conditions. Experimental Agriculture 49(1), 31–42.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ahenkorah, Y., Akrofi, G. and Adri, A.K. (1974). The end of the first shade and manurial experiment at the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana. Journal of Horticultural Science 49, 43–49.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Amoah, F.M., Opoku-Ameyaw, K., Osei-Bonsu, K. and Oppong, F.K. (2005). The effect of mulch on the establishment and early yield on cocoa. In 14th International Cocoa Research Conference, 13–18 October 2003, Accra, Ghana, 1301–1308.Google Scholar
Anim-Kwapong, G.J. (2003). Potential of some neotropical Albizia species as shade trees when replanting cacao in Ghana. Agroforestry Systems 58, 185–193.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ayanlaja, S.A. (1983). Rehabilitation of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) in Nigeria: Major problems and possible solutions. I. Causes of difficulty of seedling establishment. Plant and Soil 73, 403–409.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Balasimha, D., Daniel, E.V. and Bhat, P.G. (1991). Influence of environmental factors on photosynthesis in cacao trees. Agriculture and Forest Meteorology 55, 15–21.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Carr, M.K.V. and Lockwood, G. (2011). The water relations and irrigation requirements of cocoa (Theobroma cacao): A review. Experimental Agriculture 47, 653–676.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Daymond, A.J. and Hadley, P. (2004). The effects of temperature and light integral on early vegetative growth and chlorophyll fluorescence of four contrasting genotypes of cacao (Theobroma cacao). Annals of Applied Biology 145, 257–262.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Daymond, A.J., Hadley, P., Machado, R.C.R. and Ng, E. (2002). Genetic variation in partitioning to the yield component of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.). Hortscience 37, 799–801.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Daymond, A.J., Tricker, P. and Hadley, P. (2011). Genotypic variation in photosynthesis in cacao is correlated with stomatal conductance and leaf nitrogen. Biologia Plantarum 55, 99–104.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Frimpong, E.B. and Akuoko, S. (1995). The combined effects of mulching and water absorbed polymers on the establishment of cocoa in drought prone areas. Annual Report, Cocoa Research Institute, Ghana 1993-94: 59–60.Google Scholar
Galyuon, I.K.A., McDavid, C.R., Lopez, F.B. and Spence, J.A. (1996). The effect of irradiance level on cacao (Theobroma cacao L.): II. Gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence. Tropical Agriculture (Trinidad) 73(1), 29–33.Google Scholar
ICCO (2016). August Quarterly Bulletin of Cocoa Statistics.Google Scholar
Jadin, P. and Jacquemart, J.P. (1978). Effet de l’irrigation sure la précocité des jeunes cacaoyères. Café Cacao Thé 22(1), 31–36.Google Scholar
Jagoret, P. and Jadin, P. (1992). Recherche d’un itinéraire technique pour la replantation des cacaoyères au Togo. III. Premier résultats des innovations techniques proposes en milieu paysan pour la replantation des cacaoyères. Café Cacao Thé 36(4), 269–278.Google Scholar
Joly, R.J. and Hahn, D.T. (1989a). Net CO2 assimilation of cacao seedlings during periods of plant water deficit. Photosynthesis Research 21, 151–159.Google ScholarPubMed
Joly, R.J. and Hahn, D.T. (1989b). An empirical model for leaf expansion in cacao in relation to plant water deficit. Annals of Botany 64, 1–8.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Liu, C.A., Jin, S.L., Zhou, L.M., Jia, Y., Li, F.M., Xiong, Y.C. and Li, X.G. (2009). Effects of plastic film mulch and tillage on maize productivity and soil parameters. European Journal of Agronomy 31(4), 241–249.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Malhi, Y. and Wright, J. (2004). Spatial patterns and recent trends in the climate of tropical rainforest regions. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B 359, 311–329.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Oliet, J., Plannelles, R. Segura, M.L., Artero, F. and Jacobs, D.F. (2004). Mineral nutrition and growth of containerized Pinus halepensis seedlings under controlled-release fertilizer. Scientia Horticulturae 103, 113–129.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Owusu, K. and Waylen, P.R. (2013). The changing rainy season climatology of mid-Ghana. Theoretical and Applied Climatology 112(3–4), 419–430.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Raja Harun, R.M. and Hardwick, K. (1988). The effect of different temperatures and water vapour pressure deficits on photosynthesis and transpiration of cacao leaves. In 10th International Cocoa Research Conference, 17–23 May 1987, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 211–214.Google Scholar
Smith, B.G. (1989). The effects of soil-water and atmospheric vapour-pressure deficit on stomatal behaviour and photosynthesis in the oil palm. Journal of Experimental Botany 40, 647–651.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smyth, A.J. (1966). The selection of soils for cacao. Soils Bulletin No. 5:52–53. Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.Google Scholar
Stanturf, J.A., Warren, M.L., Charnley, S., Polasky, S.C., Goodrich, S.L., Armah, F. and Nyako, Y.A. (2011). Ghana Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment. Washington, DC: U.S. Agency for International Development.Google Scholar
Toxopeus, H. (1970a). Establishment ability of cacao progeny in Nigeria. Euphytica 19, 327–333.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Toxopeus, H. (1970b). Seasonal trend of the rooting success of cuttings of cacao clones in Nigeria and the relation with establishment. Euphytica 19, 426–429.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wasowicz, T.E. and Havord, G. (1951). Ten years of a mulching experiment on cacao. A Report on Cacao Research 1945–51 98–103 Trinidad: The Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture Trinidad.Google Scholar