Effectivity of Biofertilizer and shoot pruning on yield of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L)

Abstract

This study aims to understand the effectiveness of biofertilizers and shoot pruning in improving cocoa growth and yield. The research was conducted in the “Kebun Dinas Bone-Bone”, North Luwu Regency, South Sulawesi Province from February to August 2020. This research was conducted in the form of an experiment arranged in randomized block design (RBD) with 3 replications. The treatment consist of 10 levels, namely: without biofertilizer and not shoots pruned, biofertilizer 9 ml L−1 per tree and not shoots pruned, biofertilizer 18 ml L−1 per tree and not shoots pruned, biofertilizer 27 ml L−1 per tree and not shoots pruned, biofertilizer 36 ml L−1 per tree and not shoots pruned, biofertilizer 0 ml L−1 per tree and shoots pruned, biofertilizer 9 ml L−1 per tree and shoots pruned, biofertilizer 18 ml L−1 per tree and shoots pruned, biofertilizer 27 ml L−1 per tree and shoots pruned, biofertilizer 36 ml L−1 per tree and shoots pruned. Research results show that the concentration of biofertilizer of 32 mL L−1 gave the highest value for number of pods (10 pods), 42.8 seeds of fruits, and yield 0.71 kg per tree or equivalent to 591.67 kg/ha of dry seeds. Pruning the shoots gave the highest number of seeds per fruit of 36.82 and pod index of 20.