Interactions of Soil Amendments and Complex Fertilizers II: Effects on the Growth of Cocoa Seedlings (Theobroma cacao L.)

Interactions of soil amendments and complex fertilizers on the growth of cocoa seedlings (Theobroma cacao L.) were examined by means of a factorial trial. The growth para;neters - plant height, stem diameter, leaf number and leaf area were assessed at intervals of four weeks up to eighteen weeks. The dry matter yields of leaf, stem, root and their sum were determined at the end of the experiment. Individual applications of the materials used did not enhance growth of cocoa seedlings. However, incorporation of GML and complex fertilizers significantly increased plant height, stem diameter, leaf number and leaf area when compared to the control. Similar effects were obtained for dry matter yields. Liming alone improved root development but not the vegetative dry matter yields. Agrosil treated seedlings showed stunted growth and reduced dry matter yields. The above conditions were improved by the applications of complex fertilizers 12: 12 : 17: 2 + TE and 16 : 18: 12 : 5 + TE.

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