Effects of pruning and fertilization on the yield of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) in Guayas, Ecuador
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Abstract
Ecuador is one of the largest producers of fine and aromatic cocoa whose flavor has been recognized for centuries in the international market. To increase production and yield, producers rely on agricultural practices such as pruning and the use of soil and foliar fertilization. The effects of these amendments on crops of Theobroma cacao L were analyzed using a Latin square design in triplicate with four treatments including the control with 48 experimental units, divided into 16 units for each replicate. The treatments evaluated were T1 (pruning), T2 (pruning plus foliar fertilization), T3 (pruning plus soil fertilization) and T4 (control). The variables evaluated in this study were: fruit diameter (cm), fruit length (cm), seed per ear, weight of 100 seeds (gr), yield (kg/ha/year), as well as a cost/benefit analysis. Statistical analyses were carried out using ANDEVA and Tukey's test at 5% probability was used for the comparison of means. The variable of greatest interest was yield, in which T2 obtained an average of 2355.9 kg/ha/year. In addition, the cost/benefit analysis showed that for each dollar invested in T2 yields $2.21, being superior to the other treatments. In conclusion, small and large farmers should adopt these agricultural practices to improve their profitability and quality of life.
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