Abstract

GAVILANEZ-LUNA, Freddy Carlos  and  FARIAS-CHICA, Stalin Rafael. Method of the cenirrometro as an alternative to scheduling irrigation by aspersion in cocoa crop (Theobroma cacao). Acta Agron. [online]. 2019, vol.68, n.1, pp.29-34. ISSN 0120-2812.  https://doi.org/10.15446/acag.v68n1.70370.

This research was developed in a cocoa farm on the Ecuatorian coast and consisted in validating the methodology of the cenirrometro, as an alternative to programming irrigation in cocoa; comparing it with a program from the evaporation tank class A and tensiometers. For its development, a CCN-51 cocoa plantation with sprinkler irrigation installation was used, where two irrigation modules were evaluated, selecting 16 sprinklers in each, to establish the average precipitation of the sprinklers. The textural components of the soil and the contents of organic matter were determined, to indirectly obtain the physical constants of field capacity, permanent wilting point and apparent density; using the USDA Soil Water Characteristics model. For the evaporation measurements, two plastic containers were used, one for the methodology of the cenirrometro and the other to fulfill the function of the tank class A. An effective root depth of 300 mm and an irrigation threshold of 0.25 was considered, which together with a culture coefficient (Kc) of 1.10, a constant sheet was established for the 16 mm cenirrometro (mark on the container). The number of fruits/plant, diameter and length of fruits, and the yield of dry grains were evaluated; selecting 15 plants in each methodology and using the Student test. The results of production support the methodology of the cenirrometro, therefore, it can be considered as an alternative of programming irrigation by sprinkling in cocoa.

Keywords : cenirrometro; evapotranspiration; hydric balance; field capacity; irrigation dose; moisture meters.

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