The Effects of Water Availability on Mature Cocoa Plant
In Malaysia cocoa is usually grown in areas where prolonged drought is absent in Malaysia. In order to increase cocoa acreages, it may be necessary to extend cocoa planting to the northern areas of the Peninsular Malaysia where prolonged dry period occurs for several months in a year. A study is...
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English English |
| Published: |
1988
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/10240/1/FP_1988_2_A.pdf |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| Summary: | In Malaysia cocoa is usually grown in areas where prolonged
drought is absent in Malaysia. In order to increase cocoa
acreages, it may be necessary to extend cocoa planting to the
northern areas of the Peninsular Malaysia where prolonged dry
period occurs for several months in a year. A study is therefore
carried out to observe the effects of reduced water availability
on growth and productivity of mature cocoa.
The results of the experiments showed that flowering in
cocoa is rot dependent on soil water availability. Mild water
stress at 75 to 80 percent of available soil water for one month,
reduced leaf water potential, but not the yield of mature cocoa.
When the mild water stress was prolonged to two mnths, the
effect was similar to that exposed to 30 to 70 percent of
available soil water for shorter periods. Yields were reduced
through an increase in percentage cherelle wilt which comes about
from reduced photosynthate production. Water stressed condition
results in highly negative leaf water potential which brings
about stomatal closure and reduced photosynthesis.
It can therefore be concluded that under conditions of
reduced water availability, irrigation is necessary to maintain
sufficient water supply to maintain plant growth and productivity
of the cocoa plant at the optimum level. Irrigation however has
to be managed to prevent over supply of water which also is
deleterious to plant growth and productivity. |
|---|