Abstract

RANGEL-MENDOZA, Jorge Alberto  and  SILVA-PARRA, Amanda. Agroforestry systems of Theobroma cacao L. affects soil and leaf litter quality. Colomb. for. [online]. 2020, vol.23, n.2, pp.75-88. ISSN 0120-0739.  https://doi.org/10.14483/2256201x.16123.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of Agroforestry systems (AFS) and non-AFS of Theobroma cacao L. on soil and leaf litter quality, during rainy (RS) and dry (DS) seasons in a tropical zone. The treatments were T. cacao crop (CC), Yopo forestry (Anadenanthera peregrina L.) Speg. (YF), Acacia forestry (Acacia mangium Willd.) (AF), Agroforestry system of T. cacao + Yopo forestry (CYF), Agroforestry system of T. cacao + Acacia forestry (CAF), arranged in random design in the field. Leaf litter production was highest in CC (0.79 and 0.73 ton.ha-1) during RS and DS, respectively. CC and AFS improved soil fertility, less Mg in CC; AFS leaf litter quality, CAF in DS and CYF in both seasons, less B and S in DS. AFS can be a solution in tropical zones to solve the problems of low soil fertility.

Keywords : biotechnology; soil fertility; soil organic matter; nutrients; tropical soils.

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