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2024-04-15Subject
570 Life sciences; biology 630 Agriculture KakaoanbauAgroforstwirtschaftSchale <Biologie>ZersetzungStreuNährstoffSaisonschwankungMetadata
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The research leading to these results received funding from German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) under Grant Agreement No. 57299294.
Carbon and nutrient cycling in cocoa agroforests under organic and conventional management
Abstract
In cocoa agroforestry systems, cycling of leaves, pods, and branches are key for organic matter sustenance. We investigated annual total litterfall, annual nutrient stocks in total litterfall, cocoa pods and beans, as well as cocoa leaf decomposition rates in cocoa agroforestry systems under conventional and organic management in Suhum Municipality, Eastern Region of Ghana. The study was conducted using six cocoa agroforests for each management selected from a total of four villages. Litterfall was collected monthly using litterboxes and a litterbag technique was employed to study the rates of leaf decomposition and nutrient release for 12 months. In June and July, total litterfall in organic farms were 94% and 65%, respectively, higher than in conventional farms, but management had no effect on average annual total litterfall of 8.8 t ha−1 yr−1 litterfall. Due to the trees’ reduced transpiration, 61% of the annual total litterfall occurred during the dry season. Whereas average leaf litter nitrogen (N) concentration was 17% higher in the rainy season than dry season, potassium (K) concentration was 38% higher during the dry season than rainy season. This likely reflected the contribution of N rich green leaves to litterfall in the rainy season and plant coping strategy to drought leading to K accumulation. Cocoa leaf decomposition was not affected by management. Annual potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) stocks in cocoa pod husk were four and nine-fold, respectively, higher than in cocoa beans. We conclude that organic versus conventional management had no effect on litterfall and cocoa leaf decomposition rather season influenced litterfall quantity and chemistry. Irrespective of management the spreading of cocoa pod husk after harvest will improve internal nutrient cycling in cocoa agroforestry systems.
Citation
In: Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems Volume 129 / Issue 1 (2024-04-15) , S. 7-20 ; eissn:1573-0867Sponsorship
Gefördert im Rahmen des Projekts DEALThe research leading to these results received funding from German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) under Grant Agreement No. 57299294.
Citation
@article{doi:10.17170/kobra-2024081310669,
author={Agbotui, Deogratias Kofi and Ingold, Mariko and Bürkert, Andreas},
title={Carbon and nutrient cycling in cocoa agroforests under organic and conventional management},
journal={Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems},
year={2024}
}
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2024-09-02T09:51:32Z 2024-09-02T09:51:32Z 2024-04-15 doi:10.17170/kobra-2024081310669 http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/16010 Gefördert im Rahmen des Projekts DEAL The research leading to these results received funding from German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) under Grant Agreement No. 57299294. eng Namensnennung 4.0 International http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ cocoa pod husk decomposition litterfall nutrient release seasonal effects 570 630 Carbon and nutrient cycling in cocoa agroforests under organic and conventional management Aufsatz In cocoa agroforestry systems, cycling of leaves, pods, and branches are key for organic matter sustenance. We investigated annual total litterfall, annual nutrient stocks in total litterfall, cocoa pods and beans, as well as cocoa leaf decomposition rates in cocoa agroforestry systems under conventional and organic management in Suhum Municipality, Eastern Region of Ghana. The study was conducted using six cocoa agroforests for each management selected from a total of four villages. Litterfall was collected monthly using litterboxes and a litterbag technique was employed to study the rates of leaf decomposition and nutrient release for 12 months. In June and July, total litterfall in organic farms were 94% and 65%, respectively, higher than in conventional farms, but management had no effect on average annual total litterfall of 8.8 t ha−1 yr−1 litterfall. Due to the trees’ reduced transpiration, 61% of the annual total litterfall occurred during the dry season. Whereas average leaf litter nitrogen (N) concentration was 17% higher in the rainy season than dry season, potassium (K) concentration was 38% higher during the dry season than rainy season. This likely reflected the contribution of N rich green leaves to litterfall in the rainy season and plant coping strategy to drought leading to K accumulation. Cocoa leaf decomposition was not affected by management. Annual potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) stocks in cocoa pod husk were four and nine-fold, respectively, higher than in cocoa beans. We conclude that organic versus conventional management had no effect on litterfall and cocoa leaf decomposition rather season influenced litterfall quantity and chemistry. Irrespective of management the spreading of cocoa pod husk after harvest will improve internal nutrient cycling in cocoa agroforestry systems. open access Agbotui, Deogratias Kofi Ingold, Mariko Bürkert, Andreas doi:10.1007/s10705-024-10349-6 Grant Agreement No. 57299294 Kakaoanbau Agroforstwirtschaft Schale <Biologie> Zersetzung Streu Nährstoff Saisonschwankung publishedVersion eissn:1573-0867 Issue 1 Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 7-20 Volume 129 false
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