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In the CocoaSoils project (www.cocoasoils.org) Wageningen works with public and private partners around the world to improve our understanding of cocoa nutrition. The project, which formally started in 2018 and runs at least until 2022, aims to improve the efficiency and sustainability of cocoa production by focusing on the Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM). The ISFM approach in CocoaSoils proposes a stepwise intensification of cocoa production, combining improved varieties, canopy management and pest/disease control with targeted fertilizer applications complemented by (re-)use of locally available (organic) nutrient sources and appropriate intercrops/shade trees. To be able to provide good ISFM recommendations for farmers, it is necessary to have a good understanding of the roles of the different nutrients in the cocoa tree, the physiological responses of the cocoa tree to these different nutrients, and the nutrient requirements of the cocoa trees (how much, what type, how and when to apply it). This knowledge is not yet available, and therefore the partners of the CocoaSoils project will set up Core Trials. These are long-term trials of at least two hectares, where fertilisers are applied in different quantities and combinations, and responses in yield will be carefully measured. In addition to the Core Trials, smaller trials (Satellite Trials) will be set up in farmers’ fields to test a limited number of fertiliser combinations and see the effects on yield under field conditions. Based on the results from these two types of trials, ISFM recommendations will be developed and will be delivered to the farmers in order to achieve better yields and improve the sustainability of cocoa production. Within the CocoaSoils project, the Plant Production Systems Group, the Crop Systems Analysis Group, and the Earth Observation and Environmental Informatics group collaborate on the topics of data collection, management and analysis and on the supervision of four PhD students (The four PhD students (Lucette Adet, Paulina Asante, Deo-Gracias Hougni and Urcil Kenfack Essougong) who work on different aspects of cocoa cultivation. Project output (general):
Posters CocoaSoils Forum 2020:
Posters CocoaSoils Forum 2019:
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CocoaSoils (first phase: 2018-2022)
Begin
2018
End
2023
Crop
Cocoa
Description