Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-t5tsf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T07:13:51.221Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Influence of organic cocoa agroforestry on soil physico-chemical properties and crop yields of smallholders’ cocoa farms, Ghana

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 October 2020

Michael Asigbaase Open the ORCID record for Michael Asigbaase [Opens in a new window] ,
Barry H. Lomax ,
Evans Dawoe  and
Sofie Sjogersten
Michael Asigbaase*
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture and Environmental Science, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
Barry H. Lomax
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture and Environmental Science, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
Evans Dawoe
Affiliation:
Department of Agroforestry, Faculty of Renewable Natural Resources, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
Sofie Sjogersten
Affiliation:
Department of Agriculture and Environmental Science, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
*
Author for correspondence: Michael Asigbaase, E-mail: masigbaase@yahoo.com
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The success of sustainable Theobroma cacao (cocoa) production depends on the physical and chemical properties of the soils on which they are established but these are possibly moderated by the management approach that farmers adopt. We assessed and compared soil physico-chemical properties of young, mature and old organic and conventional cocoa agroforestry systems at two depths (0–15 and 15–30 cm) and evaluated the production of cocoa pods, banana and plantain in the two farm types. Cocoa farms under organic management had 20, 81, 88 and 323% higher stocks of soil organic carbon, P, Mn and Cu, respectively, compared to those under conventional management. Higher soil moisture content, electrical conductivity and pH were found on organic systems than the conventional farms. Annual cocoa pod production per tree was similar in both cocoa systems (Org. 10.1 ± 1.1 vs Con. 10.1 ± 0.6 pods per tree). The annual production of banana and plantain was higher on organic farms (186.3 ± 34.70 kg ha−1 yr−1) than conventional systems (31.6 ± 9.58 kg ha−1 yr−1). We concluded that organic management of cocoa agroforestry systems result in soils with the greater overall quality for cocoa production than conventional management and it increases the yield of co-products. Studies focusing on the impact of organic management on cocoa agroforestry systems at the landscape and regional scales are urgently needed to further deepen our understanding and support policy.

Keywords

agroforestrybanana yieldcocoaorganicsoil propertiessustainability
Type
Research Paper
Information
Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems , Volume 36 , Issue 3 , June 2021 , pp. 255 - 264
Check for updates
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Aban, JL (2014) Comparison of the physico-chemical properties as soil quality indicators (SQI) influenced by organic and conventional farming systems in Nueva Ecija, Philippines. The Philippine BIOTA 47, 1–14.Google Scholar
Adjei-Gyapong, T and Asiamah, RD (2002) The interim Ghana soil classification system and its relation with the World Reference Base for Soil Resources. World Soil Resources (Report No. 98). Rome: Food and Agricultural Organization.Google Scholar
Ahenkorah, Y (1981) The influence of environment on growth and production of the cacao tree: Soils and nutrition. Proc. 7th International cocoa res conference, Nov. 4-12, 1979, Douala, Cameroon, 167–176.Google Scholar
Ahenkorah, Y, Halm, B, Appiah, M, Akrofi, G and Yirenkyi, J (1987) Twenty years' results from a shade and fertilizer trial on Amazon cocoa (Theobroma cacao) in Ghana. Experimental Agriculture 23, 31–39.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Arévalo-Gardini, E, Canto, M, Alegre, J, Loli, O, Julca, A and Baligar, V (2015) Changes in soil physical and chemical properties in long term improved natural and traditional agroforestry management systems of cacao genotypes in Peruvian Amazon. PLoS ONE 10, e0132147. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0132147.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Arthur, A, Afrifa, AA and Dogbatse, JA (2017) Assessment of soil fertility status of cocoa farms around the Ankasa National Park in the Jomoro District of the Western Region of Ghana. International Symposium on Cocoa Research (ISCR), Lima, Peru, 13–17 November, 2017.Google Scholar
Asare, R and Anders, R (2016) Tree diversity and canopy cover in cocoa systems in Ghana. New Forests 47, 287–302.Google Scholar
Asigbaase, M (2019) Contribution of organic cocoa agroforestry to sustainable land management. PhD thesis, School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, UK.Google Scholar
Asigbaase, M, Sjogersten, S, Lomax, BH and Dawoe, E (2019) Tree diversity and its ecological importance value in organic and conventional cocoa agroforests in Ghana. PLoS One 14, e0210557. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0210557.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Badgley, C, Moghtader, J, Quintero, E, Zakem, E, Chappell, M, Avilés-Vázquez, K, Samulon, A and Perfecto, I (2007) Organic agriculture and the global food supply. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 22, 86–108. https://doi.org/doi:10.1017/S1742170507001640.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baligar, VC, Fageria, NK, Machado, RC and Meinhardt, L (2006) Concentration and uptake of P, Zn and Fe as influenced by soil acidity, and levels and forms of N, P and Fe in cacao. 15th International Cocoa Research Conference. COPAL, Cost Rica.Google Scholar
Bandanaa, J, Egyir, IS and Asante, I (2014) Cocoa farming households in Ghana consider organic practices as climate smart and livelihoods enhancer. Agriculture and Food Security 5, 29. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-016-0077-1.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Benefoh, DT (2018) Assessing land-use dynamics in a Ghanaian cocoa landscape. PhD thesis. der Landwirtschaftlichen Fakultät, der Rheinischen Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn.Google Scholar
Boyer, J (1973) Cycles de la matière organique et des éléments minéraux dans une cacaoyère camerounaise. Café Cacao Thé 18, 3–30.Google Scholar
Brito-Vega, H, Salaya-Domínguez, JM, Gómez-Méndez, E, Gómez-Vázquez, A and Antele-Gómez, JB (2018) Physico-chemical properties of soil and pods (Theobroma cacao L.) in cocoa agroforestry systems. Journal of Agronomy 17, 48–55. https://doi.org/10.3923/ja.2018.48.55.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Buggenhout, E (2018) Assessment of soil quality for organic cocoa cultivation in southern Sao Tomé. Masterproef voorgelegd voor het behalen van de graad master in de richting Master of Science in de biowetenschappen: land- en tuinbouwkunde. Universiteit Gent.Google Scholar
Cartographic staff of Soil Research Institute (1990) Ayensu-Densu basin soils. Available at: https://esdac.jrc.ec.europa.eu/images/Eudasm/Africa/images/maps/download/PDF/afr_ghadbs.pdf [Accessed on: March 7, 2020].Google Scholar
Dawoe, EK, Quashie-Sam, JS and Oppong, SK (2014) Effect of land-use conversion from forest to cocoa agroforest on soil characteristics and quality of a Ferric Lixisol in lowland humid Ghana. Agroforest Syst 88, 87. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-013-9658-1.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Di Prima, S, Rodrigo-Comino, J, Novara, A, Iovino, M, Pirastru, M, Keesstra, S and Cerdà, A (2018) Soil physical quality of citrus orchards under tillage, herbicide, and organic managements. Pedosphere 28, 463–477. doi:10.1016/S1002-0160(18)60025-6.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Djokoto, JG, Owusu, V and Awunyo-Vitor, D (2016) Adoption of organic agriculture: evidence from cocoa farming in Ghana. Cogent Food and Agriculture 2, 1242181. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2016.1242181.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Domínguez, A, Bedano, CJ, Becker, AR and Arolfo, RV (2014) : organic farming fosters agroecosystem functioning in Argentinian temperate soils: evidence from litter decomposition and soil fauna. Applied Soil Ecology 83, 170–176.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
FAO (2017) FAOSTAT. Available at: http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QC [Accessed on: January 1, 2019].Google Scholar
Ghana Cocoa Board (2018) Manual for cocoa extension in Ghana. CCAFS manual. Ghana Cocoa Board, Ghana. Available at: https://ccafs.cgiar.org/publications/manual-cocoa-extension-ghana#.XkD8cyOnzIU [Accessed on: February 29, 2020].Google Scholar
Ghana Statistical Service (2014) 2010 population and housing census– Suhum Municipality analytical report. Ghana Statistical Service, Ghana.Google Scholar
Gockowski, J, Afari-Sefa, V, Sarpong, DB, Osei-Asare, YB and Agyeman, NF (2013) Improving the productivity and income of Ghanaian cocoa farmers while maintaining environmental services: what role for certification? International Journal of Agricultural Sustainability 11: 331-346 11, 331–346. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14735903.2013.772714.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hartemink, AE and Donald, LS (2005) Nutrient stocks, nutrient cycling, and soil changes in cocoa ecosystems: A review. Advances in Agronomy. San Diego: Academic Press, , pp. 227–253.Google Scholar
Heinen, M, Marcelis, LFM, Elings, A, Figueroa, R and del Amor, FM (2002) Effects of EC and fertigation strategy on water and nutrient uptake of tomato plants. Acta Hortic 593, 101–107. https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2002.593.12.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hütz-Adams, F, Huber, C, Knoke, I, Morazán, P and Mürlebach, M (2016) Strengthening the competitiveness of cocoa production and improving the income of cocoa producers in West and Central Africa. SÜDWIND e.V. Kaiserstr., Bonn, Germany.Google Scholar
Jacobi, J, Schneider, M, Mariscal, MP, Huber, S, Weidmann, S, Bottazzi, P and Rist, S (2015) Farm resilience in organic and non-organic cocoa farming systems in Alto Beni, Bolivia. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems 39, 798–823.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Knudsen, MH and Agergaard, J (2016) Ghana's cocoa frontier in transition: the role of migration and livelihood diversification. Geografiska Annaler: Series B, Human Geography 97, 325–342. https://doi.org/10.1111/geob.12084.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kongor, JE, Boeckx, P, Vermeir, P, Van de Walle, D, Baert, G, Afoakwa, EO and Dewettinck, K (2019) Assessment of soil fertility and quality for improved cocoa production in six cocoa growing regions in Ghana. Agroforestry Systems 93, 1455–1467.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kremer, R and Hezel, L (2013) Soil quality improvement under an ecologically based farming system in northwest Missouri. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 28, 245–254. https://doi.org/doi:10.1017/S174217051200018X.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kyereh, D (2017) Shade trees in cocoa agroforestry systems in Ghana: influence on water and light availability in dry seasons. Journal of Agriculture and Ecology Research International 10, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.9734/JAERI/2017/31227.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Landon, JR (2014) Booker Tropical Soil Manual: A Handbook for Soil Survey and Agricultural Land Evaluation in the Tropics and Subtropics. New York and London: Routledge Taylor and Francis Group.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lori, M, Symnaczik, S, Mäder, P, De Deyn, G and Gattinger, A (2017) Organic farming enhances soil microbial abundance and activity—A meta- analysis and meta-regression. PLoS ONE 12, e0180442. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0180442.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mahrizal, L, Nalley, L, Dixon, BL and Popp, J (2012) : necessary price premiums to incentivize Ghanaian organic cocoa production: a phased, orchard management approach. HortScience 47, 1617–1624.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nunoo, I, Owusu, V and Darko, BO (2014) Cocoa agroforestry a bridge for sustainable organic cocoa production. Rahmann, G. and Aksoy, U., (Eds.). Proceedings of the 4th ISOFAR Scientific Conference. ‘Building Organic Bridges’, at the Organic World Congress, 2014, 13–15 October, Istanbul, Turkey (eprint ID 23519).Google Scholar
Nziguheba, G, Zingore, S, Kihara, J, Merckx, R, Njoroge, S, Otinga, A, Vandamme, E and Vanlauwe, B (2016) Phosphorus in smallholder farming systems of sub-Saharan Africa: implications for agricultural intensification. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 104, 321–340. doi: 10.1007/s10705-015-9729-y.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ofori-Frimpong, K, Asase, A, Mason, J and Danku, L (2007) Shaded versus unshaded cocoa: implications on litter fall, decomposition, soil fertility and cocoa pod development. Symposium on multistrata agroforestry systems with perennial crops, CATIE Turrialba, pp. 17–21. Costa Rica.Google Scholar
Peralta, N and Costa, JL (2013) Delineation of management zones with soil apparent electrical conductivity to improve nutrient management. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture 99, 218–226. https://doi.org//10.1016/j.compag.2013.09.014.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rainforest Alliance (2018) Guidance document; estimating certified volumes (version 2.0). Rainforest Alliance. Available at: https://www.utz.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Guidance-document-UTZ-%E2%80%93-Certified-Volume.pdf [Accessed on: May 23, 2020].Google Scholar
Reganold, JP (1988) Comparison of soil properties as influenced by organic and conventional farming systems. Reprint from the American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 3, 144–155. doi: 10.1017/S0889189300002423CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schneider, M, Andres, C, Trujillo, G, Alcon, F, Amurrio, P, Perez, E, Weibel, E and Milz, J (2017) Cocoa and total system yields of organic and conventional agroforestry vs. Monoculture systems in a long-term field trial in Bolivia. Experimental Agriculture, 53, 351–374. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0014479716000417.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Scialabba, N and Müller-Lindenlauf, M (2010) Organic agriculture and climate change. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 25, 158–169. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742170510000116.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Soil Survey Division Staff (1993) Soil survey manual. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Handbook No. 18. U.S. Govt. Printing Office, Washington, DC.Google Scholar
Soto-Pinto, L and Aguirre-Dávila, CM (2015) Carbon stocks in organic coffee systems in Chiapas, Mexico. Journal of Agricultural Science 7, 1916–9760. https://doi.org/10.5539/jas.v7n1p117.Google Scholar
Stockdale, E and Watson, C (2009) Biological indicators of soil quality in organic farming systems. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 24, 308–318. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742170509990172.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Suja, G, Byju, G, Jyothi, AN, Veena, SS and Sreekumar, J (2017) Yield, quality and soil health under organic vs conventional farming in taro. Scientia Horticulturae 218, 334–343.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
van Vliet, JA, Slingerland, M and Giller, KE (2015) Mineral Nutrition of Cocoa. A Review. Wageningen: Wageningen University and Research Centre, 57 pp.Google Scholar
Wessel, M (1971) Fertilizer requirements of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) in south-western Nigeria. Communication 61, 104, Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen, Amsterdam.Google Scholar
Wessel, M and Quist-Wessel, PMF (2015) Cocoa production in West Africa, a review and analysis of recent developments. NJAS - Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences 74–75, 1–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wortman, S, Galusha, T, Mason, S and Francis, C (2012) Soil fertility and crop yields in long-term organic and conventional cropping systems in Eastern Nebraska. Renewable Agriculture and Food Systems 27, 200–216. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1742170511000317.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zingore, S, Delve, RJ, Nyamangara, J and Giller, KE (2008) Multiple benefits of manure: the key to maintenance of soil fertility and restoration of depleted sandy soils on African smallholder farms. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems 80, 267–282.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zuidema, PA, Leffelaar, PA, Gerritsma, W, Mommer, L and Anten, NPR (2005) A physiological production model for cocoa (Theobroma cacao): model presentation, validation and application. Agricultural Systems 84, 195–225.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Supplementary material: File

Asigbaase et al. Supplementary Materials

Asigbaase et al. Supplementary Materials

Download Asigbaase et al. Supplementary Materials(File)
File 562.7 KB