Articles
Fertigation frequency: impact on growth, yield, and efficient nutrient use in cocoa
Article number
1432_5
Pages
37 – 44
Language
English
Abstract
Fertigation, an agricultural practice aimed at improving fertilizer efficiency, and productivity, and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, plays a crucial role in modern cocoa cultivation.
To optimize the impact of fertigation frequencies on cocoa growth and yield, a 3-year experiment was conducted, adapted to specific crop, soil, and climatic conditions.
In this experiment fertilizer was applied at rates of 90 kg N, 14 kg P (32 kg P2O5) and 100 kg K (120 K2O) ha‑1 year‑1 in 2023 following tree planting in 2020. Six fertigation frequencies were implemented, categorized as high frequency (3 days, 7 days), medium frequency (15 days, 30 days), and low frequency (60 days, 90 days), using a randomized complete block design.
The results showed increases in NO3– and K+ concentrations in the soil solution, with a rise of 32 and 63%, respectively for high frequency compared to other frequencies.
High frequency showed a statistically superiority in the annual stem growth rate (2.55±0.44 cm, p<0.05). Chlorophyll content in leaves and N, P, K in leaf tissue showed no statistical differences between frequencies.
The analysis of 4-year cumulative yield revealed that the 3-day, 7-day, and 15-day frequencies were statistically equal, with a mean of 4.20 t ha‑1, exceeding (p<0.05) the 30-day, 60-day, and 90-day frequencies, which ranged from 3.35 to 3.00 t ha‑1. The nutrient use efficiency in terms of N, P or K removed in dry cocoas bean as a proportion of N, P and K fertilizer applied remained relatively stable for N (NUE-N) at around 0.20 kg kg‑1 for the 3-, 7-, and 15-day frequencies but dropped to 0.15 kg kg‑1 at the 90-day frequency.
Similarly, P (NUE-P) followed a similar trend, while K (NUE-K) remained consistent at 0.08 kg kg‑1 across all fertigation frequencies.
In conclusion, fertigation ever 3 to 7 days is recommended for modern cocoa cultivation.
This strategy improves the efficiency of fertilizer use and enhances the growth and yield of cocoa plantations.
To optimize the impact of fertigation frequencies on cocoa growth and yield, a 3-year experiment was conducted, adapted to specific crop, soil, and climatic conditions.
In this experiment fertilizer was applied at rates of 90 kg N, 14 kg P (32 kg P2O5) and 100 kg K (120 K2O) ha‑1 year‑1 in 2023 following tree planting in 2020. Six fertigation frequencies were implemented, categorized as high frequency (3 days, 7 days), medium frequency (15 days, 30 days), and low frequency (60 days, 90 days), using a randomized complete block design.
The results showed increases in NO3– and K+ concentrations in the soil solution, with a rise of 32 and 63%, respectively for high frequency compared to other frequencies.
High frequency showed a statistically superiority in the annual stem growth rate (2.55±0.44 cm, p<0.05). Chlorophyll content in leaves and N, P, K in leaf tissue showed no statistical differences between frequencies.
The analysis of 4-year cumulative yield revealed that the 3-day, 7-day, and 15-day frequencies were statistically equal, with a mean of 4.20 t ha‑1, exceeding (p<0.05) the 30-day, 60-day, and 90-day frequencies, which ranged from 3.35 to 3.00 t ha‑1. The nutrient use efficiency in terms of N, P or K removed in dry cocoas bean as a proportion of N, P and K fertilizer applied remained relatively stable for N (NUE-N) at around 0.20 kg kg‑1 for the 3-, 7-, and 15-day frequencies but dropped to 0.15 kg kg‑1 at the 90-day frequency.
Similarly, P (NUE-P) followed a similar trend, while K (NUE-K) remained consistent at 0.08 kg kg‑1 across all fertigation frequencies.
In conclusion, fertigation ever 3 to 7 days is recommended for modern cocoa cultivation.
This strategy improves the efficiency of fertilizer use and enhances the growth and yield of cocoa plantations.
Authors
L.A. Barragan, F.M. Amores, S.D.S. Khalsa
Keywords
fertigation, fertilizer efficiency, cocoa
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