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Resources and Environment
Application of Canonical Correlation for Soil –Vegetation Interrelationship in the Cocoa Belt of South Western Nigeria2012 •
Front. Sustain. Food Syst., Agroecology and Ecosystem Services
Soil health and synergy of ecological determinants of green cocoa productivity in different soil ecotypes in Ghana2023 •
Introduction: Soil health is critical for the efficient management of soil fertility and crop yield in “green” cocoa (GC) (Theobroma cacao L.) agroforestry systems. However, knowledge about agroecosystem factors that affect healthy soil productivity in “green” cocoa agroforestry systems is patchy in West Africa. Based on organic cocoa (OC) and conventional cocoa (CC) agroforestry systems in Ghana, this study examined the soil health and synergy of ecological factors that determine the yield of GC. Methods: Using multi-stage random sampling, 11 CC and 11 OC farms were sampled from three soil types (ferralsols, lixisols, and leptosols) within selected agroecological zones. Socioeconomic and farm data, including bulked soil samples, were collected at 0–30 cm depth for analysis of soil chemical and physical properties. Results: The results showed intricate relationships between the ecological factors and the yield of GC (1.07 t ha−1), which comprised dry beans of OC (1.24 t ha−1) and CC (0.89 t ha−1). The green cocoa yield increased for fields owned by female farmers and for native farmers who inherited or outrightly owned farmlands. The cocoa yield was also positively related to physicochemical factors such as soil organic carbon (0.21%), pH (5.8), and carbon–nitrogen ratio (40.8%). The carbon–nitrogen ratio and pH together exerted the highest positive influence (0.62%) on the yield. Biological factors such as plant density (>7 cocoa trees per 23.4 m2) and black pod rots reduced the cocoa yield. Discussion: This study provides comprehensive empirical determinants of green cocoa productivity and offers a more reliable estimate of cocoa plant density. The findings suggest that Ghana's cocoa can be much greener if stakeholders promote healthy farm soil productivity and empower women who engage in soil organic carbon-conserving agroforestry.
European Journal of Agriculture and Food Sciences
Soil Fertility Evaluation of Major Cocoa Producing Areas of Cross River State, NigeriaAssessment of soil textures and fertility properties of major cocoa producing areas of Cross River State of Nigeria was carried out to ascertain their suitability for cocoa production. Thirty six (36) representative soil samples were collected between November 2016 and January 2017 from 18 selected cocoa farms in Boki, Ikom and Etung and analyzed using standard laboratory procedures. Result indicated textural classes of loamy sand, sandy loam sandy clay loam, sandy clay and clay loam soils in the cocoa farms with a mean clay 30.02 percent, silt 13.49% and sand 56.43 the result of the fertility properties of the soils show means in the ranges of pH (5,31-5.64), EC (0.021-0.023 ds/m), OM (2.81-3.36%)TN (0.07-0.09%), AV.P (2.82-5.92 mg/kg), exch Mg (1.47-200 cmol/kg) exchange Na (0.05-0.06 cmol/kg) ECEC (6.73-8.94 cmol/kg) BS (77.25-82.70%). In this study area base saturation, exchangeable calcium and magnesium and total nitrogen were adequate within recommended limit. Available phosph...
African Journal of Agricultural Research
Contribution of soil macro-fauna diversity and abundance to soil fertility enhancement in cocoa-based (Theobroma cacao) agroforestry systems in the Littoral Region of Cameroon: An appraisal of cocoa farmers local knowledgeModern Applied Science
A Study on Effects of Soil Physico-Chemical Properties on Cocoa Production in Ondo State2010 •
Soil evaluation for cashew, and cocoa and oil Palm in Akure south west nigeria
Soil evaluation for cashew cocoa and oil palm in akure south west nigeria (1)2022 •
A key element in the sustainability of the soil-plant relationship in crop yield and performance is the soil's capacity to support tree crops prior to establishment. With the intention of determining the suitability and limitations of the soils of the locations, the northern and southern portions of Akure, a rainforest in Nigeria, were chosen for the suitability evaluation of land for tree crops. In the study area, 16 pedons were established with the help of the Global Positioning System (GPS), the locations were georeferenced and samples were taken from the pedons. The samples were subjected to standard physical and chemical testing. The findings revealed that soils in the research locations were deep to extremely deep, with pH ranging from highly acidic to slightly acidic (4.94 to 6.71). and that sand predominated. The soils had low levels of organic carbon, effective cation exchange capacity (ECEC), total nitrogen, and available phosphorus, whereas exchangeable cations were evaluated as low to moderate. The suitability result indicated that only Pedon 2 and Pedon 14 are currently highly suitable (S1) for the production of oil palms, while others ranged from moderately suitable to marginally suitable. Pedons 4, 12, and 16 were not suitable (N1), respectively, but other Pedons were moderately suitable (S2) and marginally suitable (S3) for the cultivation of cocoa. None of the study areas are currently highly suitable for the production of oil palms. The poor soil texture and low fertility status were the two main drawbacks found. Finally, sound management practices and soil conservation are essential for fertility sustainability.
The study was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria, to investigate the influence of vegetation on the morphological, physical and chemical properties of soil with a view to characterizing and classifying the soil within the plantations. The plantations are citrus, cacao and oil palm. They were established in 1974. Soil samples were taken from identified master horizons of the soil profile pits established and described in each of the plantations. The samples were analysed for their physical and chemical properties. The results indicated that the surface soil colour in the cacao plantation was dark brown (7.5YR 3/2) and 0-20 cm deep compared to the citrus plantation which was dark yellowish red (5YR 3/4) and 0-18 cm deep A-horizon; and the oil palm plantation which was dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) colour and 0-15 cm deep A-horizon. The texture of the soil ranged from slightly gravelly sandy clay loam in the surface horizons to gravelly clay in the subsurface horizons. The soil was slightly acidic (4.1 – 6.0). The pH in cacao was higher than those of the other plantations. The organic matter content of the soil ranged from moderate to high (1.14 – 6.84%) in the plantations and was higher on the soil surface than the subsurface horizons. The organic matter content was highest (6.84%) in the cacao plantation. The chemical properties considered were greater on the surface than the subsurface horizons. The influence of vegetation seemed to have been restricted to the surface soil horizons in the plantations. The soil of the plantations was classified as Isohyperthermic, paleustult (USDA); Lixisol (FAO/UNESCO) and Iwo series (Local) in the soil classification systems.
International Journal of Plant & Soil Science
Assessing the determinants of soil fertility in cocoa-based (Theobroma cacao) agroforestry systems in the Littoral region of CameroonSoil fertility decline is a reality across the globe. Soil infertility has led to falling crop yields for both food and cash crops precipitating both poverty and food insecurity. Poor agricultural practices have often been blamed for declining levels of soil fertility. It was within this framework that this study was carried out to assess soil fertility levels in cocoa-based agroforestry systems in the Littoral region of Cameroon. Through the use of a mixed research approach and descriptive and inferential statistical analysis it was found that the most perceived indicators of soil fertility by cocoa farmers in cocoa-based agroforestry systems were cocoa yields (100%), soil colour (90%), indicator plant species (75%), presence of soil macro-organisms (80%), indicator weed species (65%), growth rate/vigour of the cocoa plant (70%), and level of compaction of the soil (50%). Chi-square test statistic (X2 = 15.92, p<0.05) revealed that there was a statistically significant differen...
Solid Earth Discussions
Development of a composite soil degradation assessment index for cocoa agroforests under tropical conditions of southwest NigeriaCocoa agroforestry is a major landuse type in the tropical rainforest belt of West Africa, reportedly associated with several ecological changes, including soil degradation. This study aims to develop a composite soil degradation assessment index (CSDI) for determining the degradation level of cocoa soils under smallholder agroforests of southwest Nigeria. Plots where natural forests have been converted to cocoa plantations of ages 1–10 years, 11–40 years and 41–80 years, respectively representing young cocoa plantations (YCP), mature cocoa plantations (MCP) and senescent cocoa plantations (SCP) were identified to represent the biological cycle of the cocoa tree. Soil samples were collected at a depth of 0–20 cm in each plot and analysed in terms of their physical, chemical and biological properties. Factor analysis of soil data revealed four major interacting soil degradation processes, decline in soil nutrient, loss of soil organic matter, increase i...
2013 •
International Journal of Dairy Science
A Survey of Selected Essential and Toxic Metals in Milk in Different Regions of Egypt using ICP-AES2011 •
Estudios sobre el Mensaje Periodístico
Evolución del prime time televisivo de Antena 3 (1990-2010)2020 •
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Feeding strategies for small-scale rearing black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) as organic waste recycler2021 •
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Remote Automated User Testing: First Steps toward a General-Purpose Tool2010 •
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Asymmetrical Dimethine and Styryl Cyanines from pyrazolo-pyran moiety1991 •
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Molekularne podłoże proteinopatii: przyczyna zespołów otępiennych i zaburzeń motorycznych2021 •
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Diversité des logiques de fonctionnement et durabilité des exploitations en agriculture biologique2014 •
The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism
Effect of Growth Hormone (GH) Treatment on the Near-Final Height of 1258 Patients with Idiopathic GH Deficiency: Analysis of a Large International Database2006 •