Soil nutrirent dynamics in cocoa

Abstract

An investigation on the dynamics of soil nutrients in the rootzone of cocoa (Theobroma cacao) was conducted during 1993 – 94 at the College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara. Soil and leaf samples were taken from cocoa trees under the Cadbury – KAU Co – operative Cocoa Research Project, Vellanikkara. Cocoa variety used for the study was forastero. The soil of the site was laterite (Oxisol). The treatments consisted of factorial combinations of N, P and K fertilizers each at two levels (with and without), two levels (with and without) of irrigation and shade and seven age groups namely 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 and 12 years. Soil samples were also collected from an uncropped and unfertilized area nearby. The impact of long – term inorganic fertilization, irrigation and shade and age of the tree on soil chemical characteristics as well as foliar nutrition of cocoa influenced by long – term inorganic fertilization, irrigation and shade were assessed. Continuous application of urea for a period of nine years increased soil acidity and availability of P, S, Fe and Mn. It also increased total soil P and Fe. But it resulted in depletion of available K, Ca, Mg, Zn and Zn and Mn reserves of the soil. Long – term application of superphosphate resulted in the build – up of available and total P in soil. It also improved the status of soil available Ca, S and soil reserves of Ca and S. But it depleted soil available and total K, available and total Zn, available Mg and Cu and total Mn. Muriate of potash application increased the available and total K content of the soil. On the other hand it caused depletion of available P, Ca, S, Mn, Cu and soil Ca and Mg reserves. Interactions among urea, superphosphate and muriate of potash were also significant with regard to the fertility of the cocoa rootzone is concerned. Increasing soil acidity due to urea application, enrichment of S and Ca due to superphosphate application, and decrease in available P and S due to muriate of potash application were highly influenced by depth. Regular irrigation over a period of five years resulted in reducing the availability of P, Ca, Mn and Cu. It also reduced the total P and Mn in soil. But available K, Zn, S and total S tended to increase with irrigation. In the irrigated plots, total and available P were significantly lower in the surface layers compared to that in unirrigated plots. Provision of shade for a period of 13 years resulted in the build – up of soil organic carbon, available P, Fe and soil reserves of P, Ca, S, Fe, Zn and Mn. On the other hand it decreased the concentrations of available and total K, available S, and Zn and total Mg. Irrigation x shade interaction significantly influenced the available P content of soil. Urea application increased the foliar concentrations of N, Fe, Mn and Cu, but it decreased the leaf K content significantly. Long – term superphosphate application reduced Zn content of cocoa leaf. Application of muriate of potash increased leaf K content, but depressed foliar mg content significantly. Leaf N and K contents of cocoa were highly influenced by N x K interactions. N x P interaction significantly affected foliar Zn concentration of cocoa. Foliar Zn recorded higher values in plants receiving no nitrogen and phosphorus. Irrigation resulted in increased foliar concentrations of almost all nutrients except that of Ca and Mg. Foliar Ca content was higher in unirrigated plants. Effects of irrigation on leaf Mg was not significant. Cocoa trees under shade recorded higher concentrations of N, P, Mg, Fe and Mn and Cu in their foliage while K content was higher in open grown plants. Irrigation x shade interaction significantly influenced foliar N content. Shaded and irrigated conditions resulted in highest foliar N content. Nutrient dynamics in rootzone of cocoa over a period of 12 years of crop growth and fertilization could be described by linear or quadratic model. The linear model was found to be a better fit for available and total K, available and total Mg, available Cu and total Zn. In the case of available and total P, available and total Ca, available Zn, total S and total Cu the changes in concentrations with time could be described by a quadratic model. Available Mn content of the soil showed steady increase with age up to nine years followed by a sharp decrease.