Ecophysiology and Nutrition of cocoa

Summary

This study evaluated the effects of soil water deficit, potassium application, and genotypic variation on cocoa ecophysiology and yield. Two experiments were conducted in contrasting environmental conditions in Côte d'Ivoire. The first experiment conducted in a wet area assessed the severity of drought effects through reducing water availability with rain shelters. The second experiment performed in a drier area evaluated the effects of dry periods on varieties that differ in drought tolerance either or not alleviated by irrigation as a mitigation strategy. In both experiments different levels of K fertilizer were applied. This research provides perspectives for effective cocoa management under water stress and a better understanding on how physiological responses are regulated and stress tolerance are improved while maintaining cocoa yield and quality.