Evaluation of nutrition sources in cacao(Theobroma cacao L.) and their impact on yield

Resumen

Objective. The present study evaluated the effect of three fertilization sources —chemical fertilizer, organic compost, and a no-fertilizer treatment— on yield components of the cacao crop.

Materials and Methods. The experiment was conducted at the Rosario Izapa Experimental Field of INIFAP in Chiapas, Mexico, where the effect of three nutritional treatments (chemical fertilization, compost, and control) on yield components of six cacao clones (CATIE R4, Regalo de Dios, CAERI 1, CAERI 2, CAERI 4, and SCA12) was evaluated. The experiment was established under a randomized block design with three replications, each replication consisting of three trees per clone. Fruits were harvested from each clone, and variables were measured from 20 fruits per tree.
Results. Organic compost was the most effective nutrient source, showing significant improvements in the number of fruits and dry bean weight. Chemical fertilization showed a limited response, in some cases similar  to the control treatment, indicating low efficiency under certain edaphic conditions. The control treatment showed values similar to organic fertilization in the total number of seeds variable.
Limitations/Implications. Cacao nutrition is a closed system in which many factors interact, particularly shade trees that either contribute nutrients or compete for them within the system, and whose effects are sometimes difficult to quantify.
Findings/Conclusions. These findings suggest that the use of compost not only improves cacao productivity
but also represents a sustainable strategy that contributes to the agroecological resilience of the production
system.