Evaluación de los efectos del biocarbón como enmienda edáfica en la fitosanidad del cultivo de cacao tipo nacional

Abstract

The productivity of a cocoa plantation is affected by pests and diseases, generating considerable losses because they affect fruits of different ages, which has caused the replacement of National cocoa plantations with CCN-51 cocoa recognized for its high production and resistance to pests and diseases, however, the quality in terms of flavor and aroma is low, if it is not given a good post-harvest process to benefit the grain. The main objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of different organic amendments applied in an edaphic way on the phytosanitary nature of the national type cocoa crop. The experimental field trial was developed at the “Palenque” farm located in the Pejeyacu sector, Cantón Chilla. A randomized block design was used with 7 treatments and 10 repetitions per treatment, the study variables were total number of ears per plant, number of healthy ears per plant, number of diseased ears per plant, number of ears harvested per plant, weight of ear, number of kernels per ear, weight of 100 fresh kernels, weight of 100 dry kernels, pest severity index, disease index. The seven treatments evaluated were: (T1) biochar and chicken manure, (T2) biochar, Fossil Shell Agro and chicken manure, (T3) biochar, Fossil Shell Agro and chicken manure, (T4) Fossil Shell Agro and chicken manure, (T5) calcium silicate and chicken manure, (T6) agricultural lime, biochar and chicken manure, (T7) Control. The biochar was obtained from the burning of diseased ears in the furnace of Mr. Carlos Ramón's farm in Rio Negro, later it was crushed to pulverize it, then the treatments were weighed separately and then applied to the plants, we drilled the soil with the help of a hercules around the plants and it was applied in a circular way at a distance of 50 cm, then it was covered with litter. Applications were made every month for six months. The harvest was carried out when three months had elapsed after having finished with the application cycle of the treatments, this coincided with the time in which the pods take from flower to harvest in the degree of organoleptic maturity. For the harvest, pruning shears were used with the aim of not causing damage to the flower bearings, the harvest data was taken in situ. For the statistical analysis the SPSS program was used. The results show that the variable total number of ears in T1, T2 and T3 were the best. T1 had a higher number of healthy ears. From T1 to T5 more ears were harvested. The T1 and T3 registered a higher weight of ear. The T3 was maintained with a higher number of almonds per treatment. Treatments T1 and T6 had a higher weight of wet seeds. T5 presented a higher weight of dry seeds. T4 and T5 were the least affected by pests while T2 was the least affected by diseases. The application of Fossil Shell plus chicken manure showed a lower percentage of pest index and the dose of 100 grams of biochar in combination Fossil Shell and chicken manure obtained a lower index of diseases. By applying 100 grams of biochar and chicken manure, he obtained an increase in the production of fruits per treatment. The weight of the ear and the number of almonds was higher with the application of 50 grams of biochar in combination with Fossil Shell plus chicken manure.