Agronomy/ Soil Science

Some major achievements

• Shade management and fertilizer application in combination with pruning, appropriate weed control and insecticide application have been shown to produce yields greater than 3 tonnes/ha with Amelonado cocoa, as well as similar or higher yields with hybrid and Amazon cocoa.
• Improvement in weed control through the use of herbicides and reduction in herbicide application rate through the use of appropriate knapsack sprayer nozzle.
• Identification of phosphorus and potassium as the major nutrients required for cocoa aged 3 years and above. A new fertilizer formulation, ASAASE WURA, based on this finding was developed in partnership with the private sector. The application of this fertilizer formulation in combination with the government’s Cocoa Disease and Pests Control Programme (CODAPEC) increased the yield of dry cocoa bean from an average of 311,000 meteric tones to 736,200 meteric tones in 2003/2004 and 763,000 in 2005/2006. 

Research Grade Staff Of The Division