Author : Noordiana Nordin

Summary : Malaysian cocoa industries are facing many problems when cocoa in the country is grown on problem soils such as Ultisols and Oxisols. These soils are generally acidic, low in basic cations and also low in soil cation exchange capacity. Poor cocoa yield that was far behind the targeted yield of 1.5 tonnes contribute to reducing in Malaysian cocoa export. A combination of chemical and organic fertilizers have been shown to maintained the physical, chemical and biological of soil despite maximizing continuous production. Foliar fertilizer reduces the imbalance nutrients condition during critical growing stages. The general objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of different types of fertilizers on the cocoa growth production and the quality of cocoa beans. Thus, the specific objectives of this study were to see the effects of fertilizer treatments (organic-based and foliar fertilizers) on (i) soil fertility improvement; (ii) the growth of (matured tree and seedlings) and (iii) yield and beans quality of cocoa grown on Segamat Series. A field experiment was undertook to study the effects of organic-based and foliar fertilizers on the soil fertility improvement, the growth, yield and beans quality of cocoa grown on Segamat series. Experimental plots were prepared in Malaysian Cocoa Board (MCB) Experimental Farm with five treatments and four replications. The number of pods (successful cherelles) was recorded every month, starting 2 months after treatments. Total number of harvested mature pods was recorded from October 2004 until June 2005. The potential calculated yield was then estimated using the collected data of number of pods (successful cherelles) and harvested pods. Five pods were sampled out from each plot to determine pod and bean quality indicated by dry weight of husk, length and diameter of pods, weight of harvested pods, average number of beans/pod, single dry bean weight and pod index.