Effect of Fertigation through Drip and Micro Sprinkler on Plant Biometric Characters in Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.)

Abstract

A field experiment to study the influence of fertigation of N, P and K fertilizers on biometric characters of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) was conducted at the Department of Spices and Plantation Crops, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore during January 2010 to December 2011. The experiment was laid out with thirteen treatments replicated three times in a randomized block design. A phenomenal increase in growth parameters such as trunk girth, canopy spread and weight of the pruned branches removed, leaf fresh weight and leaf dry weight was observed with increasing levels of NPK as well as methods of fertilizer application in this study. Among the various treatments, fertigation with 125% 'Recommended Dose of Fertilizers' (125:50:175 g NPK plant year(-1)) as Water Soluble Fertilizers (WSF) through drip irrigation increased all vegetative growth parameters like trunk girth increment (1.62 cm), canopy spread increment (66.79 cm), leaf fresh weight (3.949 g), leaf dry weight (2.039 g), weight of the pruned branches removed (fresh weight 7.628 kg plant(-1)) and dry weight (4.650 kg plant(-1)).

The Effect of Different Day and Night Temperatures on the Growth and Physiology of Theobroma cacao under Controlled Environment Condition

“…There are more than five million small-scale farmers which contribute to 90% of the world's cocoa. It is estimated that the annual production of cocoa is more than 3 million tonnes equivalent to $ 5.1 billion globally where Malaysia contributed about 1% to this number [1,2]. However, the production of this crop has declined in Malaysia due to several factors and one of them is climate change.…”

Effect of Integrated Nutrient Management on Flowering Characters of Cocoa

“…Cultivation of cocoa is done primarily for the production of chocolate and various byproducts are used in cosmetics, confectioneries, perfumeries and pharmaceuticals. Considering the high yield potential in cocoa, nutrient application with due consideration on various crop growth stages viz., vegetative, flowering, pod set, pod development and maturity will help in realizing the potential yield (Krishnamoorthy and Rajamani, 2013). Flowering is cauliflorous and flowering cycle follows certain seasonal patterns.…”

Fertigation through trickle and micro sprinkler on flowering characters in cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.)

“…Considering the high yield potential in cocoa, nutrient application with due consideration on various crop growth stages viz., vegetative, flowering, pod set, pod development and maturity will help in realizing the potential yield (Krishnamoorthy and Rajamani, 2013). Flowering is cauliflorous and flowering cycle follows certain seasonal patterns.…”