Growth of cocoa seedlings with soil and foliar amendments at the nursery in Akim Tafo in the Eastern Region of Ghana

Abstract

This study was to search for an alternative means of raising healthy cocoa seedlings at the nursery that will accelerate seedling growth. The objective of the study was evaluating the growth of cocoa seedlings treated to

soil and foliar amendments at the nursery at Akim Tafo in the Eastern region

of Ghana. The experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomized Design

with three replicates and nine treatments. The following nine treatments were imposed on the soil in the polythene bags: T1-Inorganic liquid Fertilizer- Sildaco10:10:10: 0.42 ml. T2- Fertilizer-Sildaco10:10:10: 0.84ml. T3-NPS14-

31-0-S Inorganic Granular Fertilizer 0.6g. T4-NPS14-31-0-S Fertilizer 1.2g,

T5-Green OK Organic liquid fertilizer 0.42 ml. T6-Green OK 0.84 ml. T7- Elite (Organic granular) 4.5g. T8-Elite 9.0g and T9-Control. The experiment

was conducted from January 2020 to July 2020. Hybrid cocoa seedlings were

transplanted and allowed to grow for seven months. The fertilizers increased significantly (P>0.05) the plant height, stem diameter, number of leaves, fresh

root and shoot weights and dry root and shoot weights of cocoa seedlings especially organic solid fertilizer. The treatments also increased significantly

(P>0.05) soil and leaf N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, soil pH relative to the control.

Treatment 3 &4 NPS was high in pH content of the soil. Elite organic fertilizer double dose was recommended for cocoa seedlings at the nursery for Cocobod. In conclusion using of fertilizer will help increase growth of cocoa seedling and give a healthy strong cocoa to boost the nation economic stability

especially organic fertilizers that will not affect the environment. Elite organic fertilizer double dose was recommended for cocoa seedlings at the nursery.