Absorption and distribution of nutrients in cocoa and its effect on yield

摘要

The study was conducted at the Experimental Center of the National Federation of Cocoa from Colombia, to determine the absorption and distribution of NPK in the leaves, husk and almond in clones of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.), CCN-51 and ICS-95 (self-compatible) and TSH-565, ICS-39 (self-incompatible), and its influence on performance. The experimental design was randomized complete block with five treatments and four replicates and two treatments were: control (TR, concentration of nutrient (NPK) soil natural 49-23,5-146.5 kg / ha), and increases in the concentration of NPK (kg / ha): 25%(T1), 50%(T2),75%(T3) and 100%(T4). The analysis of variance showed differences (p 0.01) in the concentration of nutrients in leaves, husk and almond. Thus, higher concentrations of N and P were in almonds and K in husk, the order of preference in leaf and almond was: NKP and husk was KNP. The highest yield was obtained at T2, showing superiority for self-compatible clones, as well as the increased extraction of NPK per 1000 kg of dry grain. All clones stored the same sequence of nutrient concentration in leaf, husk and almond, however, it is evident the difference in the absorption and distribution of nutrients, and in performance between clones, which is relevant to the efficient crop nutrition management.