Assessing the performance of cocoa grown under different cropping systems in various soils of coastal Andhra Pradesh

A field study was conducted to observe the yield performance of cocoa grown under different cropping systems in various soil types in Andhra Pradesh during 2023-2024. The experiment was laid out in factorial randomized block design (FRBD) with four replications consisting of two factors. The factor one contains cropping systems @ 3 levels i.e., C1- cocoa under coconut, C2-cocoa under oil palm and C3-cocoa as monocrop and the second factor contain soil types @ 2 levels i.e., S1-Laterite soil and S2-Alluvial soil. Nutrient analysis like pH, EC (dSm-1), Organic carbon (%) nitrogen (kg/ha), phosphorous (kg/ha) and potassium (kg/ha), growth parameters viz., tree height, girth of the tree, canopy volume and yield parameters viz., number of pods per tree, fresh bean weight per pod, dry bean weight per pod, yield kg dry bean/tree and yield (t/ha) were recorded. The results revealed that the cocoa under different cropping systems in various soil showed significant difference with respect to growth and yield attributes. Cocoa grown as monocrop under laterite soil recorded the maximum tree height (3.56 m), girth of the tree (63.10 cm), canopy volume (35.56 m3) and highest Number of pods per tree (92.25), fresh bean weight per pod (144.31 g), dry bean weight per pod (59.02 g), dry bean yield /tree (5.36 kg) and yield (3.64 t/ha).