Lowering the Toxicity of Cd to Theobroma cacao Using Soil Amendments Based on Commercial Charcoal and Lime

Carbonaceous and calcareous materials are commonly used as amendments to decrease the Cd mobility in contaminated soils. This study evaluated the effect of amendments applied to cocoa seedlings in the greenhouse, considering the mobilization of soil cadmium toward the seedlings as the main response. The experimental conditions considered soil artificially contaminated with Cd at a concentration of 50 mg Cd kg−1 and applications of amendments in different treatments with the presence of charcoal dust and calcium carbonate. The charcoal was characterized by microscopy and by adsorption tests, and it proved to be a material with macropores, with a maximum capacity of 8.06 mg Cd g−1 and favorable kinetic behavior according to the adjustment of the data obtained to the pseudo-second-order model. The results also showed that the application of liming decreased the mobility of Cd toward the seedlings, with the liming combined with charcoal leading to the absence of Cd in the cocoa seedlings, considering a residual concentration of Cd in the soil of 35 mg Cd kg−1. The results, although limited to a small scale, demonstrated the possibility of applying low-cost and easy-to-handle amendments for the control of Cd in cocoa plantations.

The use of soil biostructures created by soil fauna ecosystem engineers fed with different organic matterials as inoculum source of arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi on cocoa seedling

<p><span lang="IN">Soil fauna as ecosystem engineers </span><span>have the ability to </span><span lang="IN">creat</span><span>e </span><span lang="IN">soil biostructure</span><span>s, with the capacity to </span><span lang="IN">sav</span><span>e</span><span lang="IN"> arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) spores. </span><span>This study therefore aims to </span><span lang="IN">investigate the </span><span>AMF </span><span lang="IN">spore density in the biostructures created by cooperation between earthworms and ants with a different organic matter composition</span><span>,</span><span lang="IN"> and to analyze the </span><span>biostructures’ </span><span lang="IN">potential as a source of </span><span>AMF </span><span lang="IN">inoculum on cocoa seedlings. </span><span>In the first experiment, a </span><span lang="IN">combination of earthworms and ants composition</span><span>, as well as a </span><span lang="IN">mixture of <em>G. sepium</em> leaf (GLP), cocoa shell bean (CSB), and sago dregs (SD)</span><span>,</span><span lang="IN"> was tested</span><span>. Meanwhile, </span><span lang="IN">in the </span><span>second</span><span lang="IN"> experiment</span><span>, t</span><span lang="IN">he</span><span> effect of</span><span lang="IN"> biostructures on cocoa seedlings grown </span><span>i</span><span lang="IN">n unsterile soil</span><span>,was </span><span lang="IN">examined</span><span>. According to the results, the highest</span><span lang="IN"> AMF spore </span><span>density was obtained using </span><span lang="IN">20 earthworms+10 ants with 50%GLP+50%CSB + 0%SD treatment</span><span>. Furthermore, the t</span><span lang="IN">otal AMF spores </span><span>were </span><span lang="IN">positively correlated</span><span> with the total P value, but negatively correlated </span><span lang="IN">with </span><span>the </span><span lang="IN">C/N ratio</span><span>. Therefore, bi</span><span lang="IN">ostructure application increased AMF spores number in rhizosphere and </span><span>the cocoa seedling’s </span><span lang="IN">root infection</span><span>. Furthermore, </span><span lang="IN">biostructure</span><span>s</span><span lang="IN"> resulting from the collaborative activity </span><span>between</span><span lang="IN"> different soil fauna ecosystem engineers </span><span>were able to transmit </span><span lang="IN">AMF spore</span><span>s </span><span lang="IN">to </span><span>infected </span><span lang="IN">plant root</span><span>s</span><span lang="IN"> growing </span><span>i</span><span lang="IN">n non-sterile soil.</span></p>

Inokulasi Mikoriza pada Media Tanam Campuran Kompos Kotoran Kambing Terhadap Pertumbuhan Bibit Kakao

<p>Improvements in cocoa cultivation techniques need to be done by adding goat manure as a mixture of planting media to improve the physical properties of the soil in order to make it easier for roots to develop. This objective of this study was to determine concentration of mycorrhizae, the best growing media for cocoa seedlings, and interaction on the growth of cocoa seedlings. The method used was randomized block design with two factor. The first factor was the inoculation of mycorrhizae consisting of four levels: without inoculation of mycorrhizae 10 g/plant, 20 g/plant, and 30 g/plant. The second factor was the growing media with three levels of growing media: top soil, top soil + goat manure compost (1:1), and top soil + goat manure compost (1:2). The results showed that the growing media had a significant effect on the height and volume of plant roots. Growing media of top soil produced the best average seedling by 38.06 cm and root volume by 4.39 cm3. The interaction of giving mycorrhizae with growing media had a significant effect on root volume with the best treatment 10 g/plant mycorrhizae and top soil by 5.67 cm3. The results analysis of root infection by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi showed the highest infection in the 20 g/plant mycorrhizae and top soil by 80%. Application of mycorrhizae with growing media can increase cocoa yield and growth. Planting media mycorrhizae infected to soil can affect cocoa seedling.</p>

The Effect of Beans Position of the Fruit and Liquid Organic Fertilizer on the Cocoa Seedlings

Introduction: This study was aimed to examine the effect of beans positions of the fruit and Liquid Organic Fertilizer (LOF) on the growth of the cocoa seedlings (Theobroma cacao ) in early nurseries. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted at the agricultural experiment land, Universitas Tjut Nyak Dhien, Medan Helvetia District, Medan City from April to June 2020. This study used a Randomized Block Design (RBD) within two factors. The first factor was beans position of the fruit (B0= peduncular, B1= median, B2= apical). The second factor was LOF application (D0= un-treated, D1= 3 ml.l-1, D2= 5 ml.l-1). The variables including radicle length, seedlings height, number of leaves, leaf area, stem diameter, and root fresh weight were then processed using ANOVA and BNT at the rate of 5%. Results: The beans position of the cocoa fruit was an insignificant effect on all parameters of seedlings. LOF application was significant on seedlings height at 4, 6, and 8 weeks after planting (WAP) and also the number of leaves at 8 WAP, but it had an insignificant effect on radicle length, leaf area, stem diameter, and root fresh weight. The interaction of beans position of the fruit and LOF application on the vegetative growth of cocoa seedlings in the early nursery also did insignificant in all parameters of this study.

EFEKTIFITAS PENGGUNAAN CENDAWAN MIKORIZA TERHADAP PERTUMBUHAN BIBIT KAKAO SAMBUNG PUCUK (Theobroma cacao L.) DI KABUPATEN SIKKA

The use of mycorrhizal biofertilizers in shoot grafting cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) nurseries is one of the efforts made to increase cocoa growth in Sikka Regency. This study aims to determine the effect of the dose of mycorrhizal biological fertilizer on the growth of cocoa seedlings. The study used a randomized block design (RAK) with fertilizer doses of 0 g/polybag (control), 10 g/polybag, 20 g/polybag, 30 g/polybag, 40 g/polybag 50 g/polybag. The results showed that the treatment the addition of mycorrhizae on shoot grafting cocoa seedlings had no effect on all growth variables observed at 30 days after mycorrhizal application and significantly affected all growth variables for cacao seedlings aged 60 days after mycorrhizal application. Giving mycorrhizae to shoot grafting cocoa seedlings at a dose of 50 g/polybag (M5) gave the highest yield for all growth variables of cocoa seedlings aged 60 days after mycorrhizal application, namely plant height 48.50 cm, stem diameter 1.10 cm, and number of leaves 8 ,25 strands.

Use of crushing residue as nutrients source in the cocoa seedlings development in Medicilândia – PA

The use of milled rocks has been postulated as an efficient way to provide nutrients to the plants. The objective of this work was to evaluate the cocoa seedlings agronomic performance in different Diabase Penatecaua powder treatments. The study comprehends the following phases: i) involved waste characterization, ii) treatments definition and sampling; iii) monitoring and evaluation; iv) systematization and results discussion. The experiment was realized with cocoa seedlings germinated in commercial organic substrate in the period from July to September 2019. The used rock dust was extracted at Km 85, Transamazônica highway, Medicilândia municipality – Pa. The extraction area lithology is formed by igneous rocks of Diabase Penatecaua. The experimental delineation was entirely randomized, with four repetitions per treatment, being them respectively in the dosages 0, 25, 50 and 75 (g / plant), being 16 plants per block, totaling 64 plants, and their irrigation done manually in the first hours of the day. Therefore, the results showed that the dosages were absorbed by the cocoa seedlings according to the plant's need allied to pH balance, which was caused by good nutritional cycling with the organic matter high rate present in the commercial substrate when in contact with the Diabase Penatecaua powder worked granulometry. However, the experiment time wasn’t enough to obtain statistically a significant difference. Thus, it is necessary that new studies be done aiming the temporal deepening of the studied doses for the culture.

Nitrogen uptake of cocoa seedlings as a response of cocoa pod husk derived liquid organic fertilizer application in combination with urea

As nitrogen (N) has played an important role in cocoa production, both providing the N-sources alternative materials, and increasing the efficiency of fertilization are urgently required to support both crop and land productivity. Research aims to investigate the N uptake of cocoa seedlings as results of combination of liquid organic fertilizer (LOF) and urea application. To support the understanding in terms of N dynamics, SPAD (Soil Plant Analysis Development) chlorophyll content, N use efficiency (NUE) and recovery of applied nitrogen (REN) were determined with additional information related to the optimal dosage of urea to be applied to cocoa seedlings. Greenhouse experiment, using ICCRI 08 cocoa seedlings, was carried out in Kaliwining Experimental Station, Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institute, Jember, East Java. The LOF used for this experiment was made from about 1-month fermentation of cocoa pod waste in a 200 L plastic tank with additional biodecomposer to improve the biodegradation of organic materials. The experiment was designed by a completely randomized design (CRD), and taking into account two factors, i.e. the level of LOF concentration and urea application, as treatments of which their effect was determined through regular growth observations and laboratory determination. The variation of LOF concentration levels are (i) control (B0), (ii) LOF 0.25% (B1), (iii) LOF 0.50% (B2), and (iv) LOF 1% (B3). Additionally, the rates of urea applications include control (P0), 10% of fertilizer recommendation dosage (P1), 25% of fertilizer recommendation dosage (P2), and 50% of fertilizer recommendation dosage (P3). SPAD readings indicate the significant effect of urea and its combination with LOF to the increase in the chlorophyll content by 10 – 20% in compare to control. The total N uptake by cocoa tends to decrease with the increase in the concentration of LOF. With average increase of about 28% compared to control, statistical analysis suggest the insignificant different effect of treatments. The effect of LOF to the increase in the NUE, ranging from 0.50 to 0.80, in combination with specific level of urea. With 50% of urea recommendation dosage, the increase in NUE is above 40% up to 55% compared to non-LOF applied treatments. REN data interpretation indicates the higher of its values for treatments with lower level of urea applications. With the increase in the urea rate, the REN value is decreasing implying the contribution from the input of N. In this level, the REN is down to below 50% showing the lower amount of N required in compare to the N inputs. Relating the dosage of urea with N uptake shows an asymptotic type of curves. It indicates the optimal rate of urea ranging from 0.5 to 1 g urea per pot. The higher amount of LOF applied shows to decrease the optimal dosage of urea required in compare to no LOF application (B0). Though its use as source of nutrients is limited, current research may indicate the potential utilization of LOF through foliar spray to increase the efficiency of urea application.

Mulching and Irrigation Practices on Cocoa Seedling Survival and Field Establishment

Irrigation experiments of cocoa tend to concentrate on yield of matured cocoa trees compared to field establishment of young seedlings. Seedling survival leading to optimum population density are fundamental to obtaining maximum yield of crops. The aim of this experiment was to determine the effect of mulching and irrigation on survival of hybrid cocoa clone raised in three different growing media during the establishment phase. The experimental design was a 2 x 2 x 3 factorial arranged in a split-split plot design, with irrigation as the main plot factor, mulching as the subplot factor and growing media as the sub-sub plot factor with three replications. Cocoa pod husk (CPH) was used as the mulching material and each plant received 5kg at a rate of 5.6 t/ha. Irrigation was done daily by applying 4L of water except when it rains. Data was collected on soil moisture, plant height, leaf number, stem girth and plant survival. Results indicated that irrigation and mulching significantly (P<0.01) enhanced soil moisture. Cocoa seedlings raised in topsoil, mulched and irrigated significantly (P<0.05) increased survival rate (94.5%) compared to seedlings raised in soil without irrigation and no mulching (47.1%). Similarly, the survival rate of seedlings raised in growing media M2, mulched and irrigated (93.0%) was significantly (P<0.05) higher than similar seedlings without irrigation (73.4%). However, the survival rate of seedlings raised in M3 without mulching but irrigated was significantly (<0.05) higher 92.1% compared to seedlings raised in M3 mulched and irrigated 67.1%. Irrigation is very important in ensuring high survival rate during early field establishment. Mulching with cocoa pod husk without irrigation did not improve cocoa seedling survival.

Growth and quality of SJ-02 cocoa seedlings (Theobroma cacao L.) under different irrigation depths and cultivation containers

The study aimed to evaluate the growth and quality of SJ-02 cocoa seedlings under different irrigation depths and cultivation container sizes. The experiment was arranged as a completely randomized design, in a factorial scheme (4x3), where the first factor consisted of the application of four different irrigation depths (6, 10, 12 and 14 mm d-1) and the second one was composed of three different cultivation containers (small, medium and large). Twelve treatments were evaluated with eight repetitions, totaling 96 plants in the experimental field. At 74 days after sowing, the leaf area, stem diameter, plant height, dry mass of the aerial part, dry mass of the root system, total dry mass and Dickson's quality index of all seedlings were analyzed. The 10.32 mm d-1 irrigation depth and the medium and large cultivation containers provided the highest quality in seedling production, being the most suitable ones. However, there was no interaction between the factors

Sexual propagation of common Bahia cocoa seedlings (Theobroma cacao L.) influenced by irrigation depths and the planting seasons

Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) is one of the most economically important species due to its use in the production of chocolate, honey, pulp, animal feed, fertilizers, jellies, butter and cocoa powder. The production of seedlings such as through sexual propagation is the essential stage for the establishment of new cocoa crops, in which the seedlings are produced by seeds. This is the most commonly used method in cocoa. Several factors interfere with the final quality of the seedlings, such as the planting season and the irrigation management. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different irrigation depths and planting seasons on the quality and growth of Bahia genotype cocoa seedlings produced through sexual propagation. The study took place at the Federal Institute of Espírito Santo, Campus Itapina, in Colatina, located in the Northwest region of the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil. The experimental design was completely randomized in a split-plot scheme. The plots consisted of six different irrigation depths: 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 mm d-1 and the subplots, of three different planting seasons: autumn, winter and spring. At 50 days after sowing, the seedlings were evaluated for the following morphological characteristics: plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, length of the root system, dry mass of the aerial part, dry mass of the root system, total dry mass and Dickson quality index. The production of Common Bahia genotype cacao seedlings is more effective in the irrigation depth of 9.44 mm d-1, demonstrating better development and higher plant quality.