Soil Amendment Enhances Soil Regeneration and Cocoa Seedling Growth

Land‐use change from forest to agrosystem, together with inadequate agricultural practices, leads to the loss of soil functionality and affects productivity. Agricultural amendments could accelerate agrosystem resilience by improving soil properties and crop growth. This study evaluated the effects of dolomite (0 and 0.52 kg/hole), compost (2 and 3 kg/hole), and phosphate rock (0.15 and 0.3 kg/hole), applied individually and in selected combinations in planting holes during cocoa seedling transplantation to the field. Six months after transplantation, soil and seedling growth variables were evaluated directly within the planting holes, near the root zone, without disturbing the seedlings, including hydraulic conductivity (Ks), gravimetric soil moisture (Gsm), porosity percentage (PP), bulk density (Bd), penetration resistance (PR), organic matter, cation exchange capacity (CEC), nutrient availability, and CO 2 emissions. Compost application substantially improved soil physical and chemical properties, including Ks, Gsm, PP, organic matter, and CEC, while reducing Bd and PR. Aluminum concentrations were below the detection limit in treatments receiving compost or dolomite. The highest phosphate rock dose markedly increased soil phosphorus content. CO 2 emissions increased, indicating enhanced soil biological activity, which may include microbial respiration and abiotic CO 2 sources. Combined amendments also promoted greater cocoa seedling height compared to the control. These results demonstrate that targeted soil amendments can effectively improve key physical, chemical, and biological soil properties, supporting early‐stage cocoa seedling growth in degraded soils.