Cocoa (Theobroma cacao) yield increase in Costa Rica through novel stress management and fertilization approach
Authors/Creators
- 1. CABI Caribbean and Latin America - Costa Rica, c/o Centro Agronómico Tropical de Investigación y Enseñanza (CATIE), 7170 Turrialba, Costa Rica
- 2. CATIE, 7170 Turrialba, Costa Rica
- 3. CABI Europe – UK, Silwood Park, Buckhurst Road, Ascot, Berks., U.K.
Description
We assessed the effect of calcium-based anti-stress and fertilization products on cocoa diseases, yield and quality. Calcium levels in cocoa seeds were elevated by up to 25% w/w. Cocoa bean defects, pod index, pH and organoleptic parameters were unaffected by treatments. Impaction did not improve yield (average 179.6 kg ha-1 yr-1), but led to a reduction of cherelle wilt from 3.7% to 1.6% over two seasons. Impaction with Speedo CaNincreased yield by over 40%, from 190.7 kg ha-1 yr-1 to 273.7 kg ha-1 yr-1, by stimulating pod production. Diseases, most notably frosty pod rot, claimed over 80% of pods and were unaffected by the above products. Thus, we combined them with the biocontrol agent Trichoderma ovalisporum. The agents proved to be compatible and augmented the number of healthy pods harvested, but not as much as a copper fungicide.