Theory question 105
Crop HusbandryDescribe briefly the production of cocoa under the following headings:
(a) method of propagation.
(b) climatic and soil requirements.
(c) nursery requirement
(d) maturity period.
(e) method of harvesting.
(f) two major diseases and their control.
Show the model answer
(a) Mainly by seeds (fresh beans from selected pods); also cuttings and budding
(b) Rainfall 1250–2500 mm well distributed; temperature 21–32 °C; high humidity; shade when young; deep, well-drained loamy soil rich in humus, pH about 6–7
(c) Seeds sown in polythene bags filled with topsoil, under shade; watering, weeding, pest control; transplanted at 4–6 months, spaced about 3 m × 3 m in the field with shade crops (plantain, cocoyam)
(d) Starts bearing 3–5 years after planting; full bearing about 7–10 years
(e) Ripe pods (yellow/orange) cut with a cutlass or a harvesting hook on a pole; pods broken, beans fermented 5–7 days, dried and bagged
(f) Black pod (Phytophthora fungus) – remove infected pods, regular harvesting, spray copper fungicides; swollen shoot (virus spread by mealybugs) – cut out and burn infected trees, resistant varieties, control mealybugs; also capsid damage
Give figures for climate, spacing and years to bearing.