Evaluation of River Sand as a Medium for Raising Cocoa (Theobroma Cacao L.) Seedlings

Sampson Konlan; Michael Obour Opoku-Agyeman; Kofi Acheampong; Kwabena Opoku-Ameyaw; Gilbert John Anim-Kwapong; Godwin Addo

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajaf.20140204.13

Evaluation of River Sand as a Medium for Raising Cocoa (Theobroma Cacao L.) Seedlings

Sampson Konlan, Michael Obour Opoku-Agyeman, Kofi Acheampong, Kwabena Opoku-Ameyaw, Gilbert John Anim-Kwapong, Godwin Addo

Published in American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry (Volume 2, Issue 4)

Received: 28 April 2014 Accepted: 10 May 2014 Published: 20 June 2014

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Abstract

A nursery experiment was conducted between November, 2011 and May, 2012 at the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana to investigate the effect of using river sand and river sand-topsoil mixture on cocoa seedlings. Treatments tested were sole topsoil, sole river sand, river sand + foliar fertilizer (Sidalco liquid fertilizer, NPK-10:10:10), river sand + topsoil (1:1) and river sand + topsoil mixture (1:1) + foliar fertilizer. The results showed that sole topsoil retained more moisture and supported significantly taller seedlings. The river sand-topsoil mixture + foliar fertilizer seedlings had higher chlorophyll content and was more photosynthetically efficient thus resulting in significantly (P<0.05) larger stem diameter than all other treatments. Stem volume of seedlings in the river sand + topsoil +foliar fertilizer were also not different from those found in the sole topsoil medium. There were positive correlations between moisture retention and chlorophyll content of the seedlings. Chlorophyll content was found to be positively correlated to stem diameter and height gain by the seedlings. It was therefore concluded that cocoa seedlings can be raised in polybags filled with a mixture of river sand and topsoil (1:1) for a period of six months provided foliar fertilizer is applied at the rate of 10 mls NPK (10:10:10) in 15 litres of water at bi-weekly intervals.

Published in	American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry (Volume 2, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajaf.20140204.13
Page(s)	114-120
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2014. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Theobroma Cacao, River Sand, Chlorophyll Fluorescence, Photosynthesis, Stem Volume, Foliar Fertilizer

References

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[3]	Amoah FM, Opoku-Ameyaw K, Osei-Bonsu K, Oppong FK. Evaluation of bare-rooted methods for transplanting cocoa seedlings. Ghana Journal of Agricultural Science. 1999; 32: 69-77.
[4]	Amoah FM, Opoku-Ameyaw K, Osei-Bonsu K, Oppong FK. The effect of seedling age on the survival rate of transplanted bare-rooted cocoa seedlings. In: Proceedings, 13th International Cocoa Research Conference, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia, 2001; pp 1215-1219.
[5]	Atiyeh RM, Subler S, Edwards CA, Bachman G, Metzger JD, Shuster W. Effects of vermicomposts and composts on plant growth in horticultural container media and soil. Pedo biologia, 2000. 44: 579–590
[6]	Gitelson AA, Buschmann C, Lichtenthaler HK. The Chlorophyll Fluorescence Ratio F735/F700 as an Accurate Measure of the Chlorophyll Content in Plants. Remote Sensing of Environment. 1999; 69 (3): 296.
[7]	Ho DT, Loh HP, Chan E. Germination, nursery practices and field planting techniques for the MAW A hybrid coconut. Proceedings of the International Conference on Cocoa and Coconut.Planter, Kuala Lumpur. 1978; 59: 207-214.
[8]	Kirk WP, Desmond RL, Snake CJ, Michael GK. Growth Enhancement of Containergrown Pawpaw Seedlings as Influenced by Media Type, Root-zone Temperature, and Fertilization Regime. HORTSCIENCE. 2002; 37(2):329–333
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[12]	Opoku-Ameyaw K, Baah F, Gyedu-Akoto E, Anchirinah V, Dzahini-Obiatey HK, Kudjoe AR, Acquaye S, Opoku SY. Cocoa Manual. A Source Book for Sustainable Cocoa production, 1st Edition. Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana. 2010; 105pp.
[13]	Oppong FK, Opoku-Ameyaw K, Ofori-Frimpong K, Owusu-Ansah F. Effects of polybag size and foliar application of urea on cocoa seedling growth. Ghana Journal of Agricultural Science. 2007; 40 (2): 207-213.
[14]	Oppong FK, Opoku-Ameyaw K, Osei-Bonsu K, Amoah FM, Brew KM, Acheampong K. The effect of time of planting at stake on cocoaseedling survival. Ghana Journal of Agricultural Science. 1999; 32: 79-86.
[15]	Peries RRA, Everard JMDT. River sand as an alternative to topsoil for raising coconut seedling in polybags. COCOS. 1993; 9: 40 - 46.
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Sampson Konlan, Michael Obour Opoku-Agyeman, Kofi Acheampong, Kwabena Opoku-Ameyaw, Gilbert John Anim-Kwapong, et al. (2014). Evaluation of River Sand as a Medium for Raising Cocoa (Theobroma Cacao L.) Seedlings. American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, 2(4), 114-120. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20140204.13

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ACS Style

Sampson Konlan; Michael Obour Opoku-Agyeman; Kofi Acheampong; Kwabena Opoku-Ameyaw; Gilbert John Anim-Kwapong, et al. Evaluation of River Sand as a Medium for Raising Cocoa (Theobroma Cacao L.) Seedlings. Am. J. Agric. For. 2014, 2(4), 114-120. doi: 10.11648/j.ajaf.20140204.13

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AMA Style

Sampson Konlan, Michael Obour Opoku-Agyeman, Kofi Acheampong, Kwabena Opoku-Ameyaw, Gilbert John Anim-Kwapong, et al. Evaluation of River Sand as a Medium for Raising Cocoa (Theobroma Cacao L.) Seedlings. Am J Agric For. 2014;2(4):114-120. doi: 10.11648/j.ajaf.20140204.13

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@article{10.11648/j.ajaf.20140204.13,
  author = {Sampson Konlan and Michael Obour Opoku-Agyeman and Kofi Acheampong and Kwabena Opoku-Ameyaw and Gilbert John Anim-Kwapong and Godwin Addo},
  title = {Evaluation of River Sand as a Medium for Raising Cocoa (Theobroma Cacao L.) Seedlings},
  journal = {American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry},
  volume = {2},
  number = {4},
  pages = {114-120},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajaf.20140204.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20140204.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajaf.20140204.13},
  abstract = {A nursery experiment was conducted between November, 2011 and May, 2012 at the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana to investigate the effect of using river sand and river sand-topsoil mixture on cocoa seedlings. Treatments tested were sole topsoil, sole river sand, river sand + foliar fertilizer (Sidalco liquid fertilizer, NPK-10:10:10), river sand + topsoil (1:1) and river sand + topsoil mixture (1:1) + foliar fertilizer. The results showed that sole topsoil retained more moisture and supported significantly taller seedlings. The river sand-topsoil mixture + foliar fertilizer seedlings had higher chlorophyll content and was more photosynthetically efficient thus resulting in significantly (P<0.05) larger stem diameter than all other treatments. Stem volume of seedlings in the river sand + topsoil +foliar fertilizer were also not different from those found in the sole topsoil medium. There were positive correlations between moisture retention and chlorophyll content of the seedlings. Chlorophyll content was found to be positively correlated to stem diameter and height gain by the seedlings. It was therefore concluded that cocoa seedlings can be raised in polybags filled with a mixture of river sand and topsoil (1:1) for a period of six months provided foliar fertilizer is applied at the rate of 10 mls  NPK (10:10:10) in 15 litres of water at bi-weekly intervals.},
 year = {2014}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Evaluation of River Sand as a Medium for Raising Cocoa (Theobroma Cacao L.) Seedlings
AU  - Sampson Konlan
AU  - Michael Obour Opoku-Agyeman
AU  - Kofi Acheampong
AU  - Kwabena Opoku-Ameyaw
AU  - Gilbert John Anim-Kwapong
AU  - Godwin Addo
Y1  - 2014/06/20
PY  - 2014
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20140204.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajaf.20140204.13
T2  - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
JF  - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
JO  - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
SP  - 114
EP  - 120
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8591
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20140204.13
AB  - A nursery experiment was conducted between November, 2011 and May, 2012 at the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana to investigate the effect of using river sand and river sand-topsoil mixture on cocoa seedlings. Treatments tested were sole topsoil, sole river sand, river sand + foliar fertilizer (Sidalco liquid fertilizer, NPK-10:10:10), river sand + topsoil (1:1) and river sand + topsoil mixture (1:1) + foliar fertilizer. The results showed that sole topsoil retained more moisture and supported significantly taller seedlings. The river sand-topsoil mixture + foliar fertilizer seedlings had higher chlorophyll content and was more photosynthetically efficient thus resulting in significantly (P<0.05) larger stem diameter than all other treatments. Stem volume of seedlings in the river sand + topsoil +foliar fertilizer were also not different from those found in the sole topsoil medium. There were positive correlations between moisture retention and chlorophyll content of the seedlings. Chlorophyll content was found to be positively correlated to stem diameter and height gain by the seedlings. It was therefore concluded that cocoa seedlings can be raised in polybags filled with a mixture of river sand and topsoil (1:1) for a period of six months provided foliar fertilizer is applied at the rate of 10 mls  NPK (10:10:10) in 15 litres of water at bi-weekly intervals.
VL  - 2
IS  - 4
ER  -

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Author Information

Sampson Konlan

Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, P. O. Box 8, New Tafo-Akim
Michael Obour Opoku-Agyeman

Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, P. O. Box 8, New Tafo-Akim
Kofi Acheampong

Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, P. O. Box 8, New Tafo-Akim
Kwabena Opoku-Ameyaw

Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, P. O. Box 8, New Tafo-Akim
Gilbert John Anim-Kwapong

Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, P. O. Box 8, New Tafo-Akim
Godwin Addo

Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, P. O. Box 8, New Tafo-Akim

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Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Sampson Konlan, Michael Obour Opoku-Agyeman, Kofi Acheampong, Kwabena Opoku-Ameyaw, Gilbert John Anim-Kwapong, et al. (2014). Evaluation of River Sand as a Medium for Raising Cocoa (Theobroma Cacao L.) Seedlings. American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry, 2(4), 114-120. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20140204.13

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ACS Style

Sampson Konlan; Michael Obour Opoku-Agyeman; Kofi Acheampong; Kwabena Opoku-Ameyaw; Gilbert John Anim-Kwapong, et al. Evaluation of River Sand as a Medium for Raising Cocoa (Theobroma Cacao L.) Seedlings. Am. J. Agric. For. 2014, 2(4), 114-120. doi: 10.11648/j.ajaf.20140204.13

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AMA Style

Sampson Konlan, Michael Obour Opoku-Agyeman, Kofi Acheampong, Kwabena Opoku-Ameyaw, Gilbert John Anim-Kwapong, et al. Evaluation of River Sand as a Medium for Raising Cocoa (Theobroma Cacao L.) Seedlings. Am J Agric For. 2014;2(4):114-120. doi: 10.11648/j.ajaf.20140204.13

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@article{10.11648/j.ajaf.20140204.13,
  author = {Sampson Konlan and Michael Obour Opoku-Agyeman and Kofi Acheampong and Kwabena Opoku-Ameyaw and Gilbert John Anim-Kwapong and Godwin Addo},
  title = {Evaluation of River Sand as a Medium for Raising Cocoa (Theobroma Cacao L.) Seedlings},
  journal = {American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry},
  volume = {2},
  number = {4},
  pages = {114-120},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajaf.20140204.13},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20140204.13},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajaf.20140204.13},
  abstract = {A nursery experiment was conducted between November, 2011 and May, 2012 at the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana to investigate the effect of using river sand and river sand-topsoil mixture on cocoa seedlings. Treatments tested were sole topsoil, sole river sand, river sand + foliar fertilizer (Sidalco liquid fertilizer, NPK-10:10:10), river sand + topsoil (1:1) and river sand + topsoil mixture (1:1) + foliar fertilizer. The results showed that sole topsoil retained more moisture and supported significantly taller seedlings. The river sand-topsoil mixture + foliar fertilizer seedlings had higher chlorophyll content and was more photosynthetically efficient thus resulting in significantly (P<0.05) larger stem diameter than all other treatments. Stem volume of seedlings in the river sand + topsoil +foliar fertilizer were also not different from those found in the sole topsoil medium. There were positive correlations between moisture retention and chlorophyll content of the seedlings. Chlorophyll content was found to be positively correlated to stem diameter and height gain by the seedlings. It was therefore concluded that cocoa seedlings can be raised in polybags filled with a mixture of river sand and topsoil (1:1) for a period of six months provided foliar fertilizer is applied at the rate of 10 mls  NPK (10:10:10) in 15 litres of water at bi-weekly intervals.},
 year = {2014}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Evaluation of River Sand as a Medium for Raising Cocoa (Theobroma Cacao L.) Seedlings
AU  - Sampson Konlan
AU  - Michael Obour Opoku-Agyeman
AU  - Kofi Acheampong
AU  - Kwabena Opoku-Ameyaw
AU  - Gilbert John Anim-Kwapong
AU  - Godwin Addo
Y1  - 2014/06/20
PY  - 2014
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20140204.13
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajaf.20140204.13
T2  - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
JF  - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
JO  - American Journal of Agriculture and Forestry
SP  - 114
EP  - 120
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2330-8591
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajaf.20140204.13
AB  - A nursery experiment was conducted between November, 2011 and May, 2012 at the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana to investigate the effect of using river sand and river sand-topsoil mixture on cocoa seedlings. Treatments tested were sole topsoil, sole river sand, river sand + foliar fertilizer (Sidalco liquid fertilizer, NPK-10:10:10), river sand + topsoil (1:1) and river sand + topsoil mixture (1:1) + foliar fertilizer. The results showed that sole topsoil retained more moisture and supported significantly taller seedlings. The river sand-topsoil mixture + foliar fertilizer seedlings had higher chlorophyll content and was more photosynthetically efficient thus resulting in significantly (P<0.05) larger stem diameter than all other treatments. Stem volume of seedlings in the river sand + topsoil +foliar fertilizer were also not different from those found in the sole topsoil medium. There were positive correlations between moisture retention and chlorophyll content of the seedlings. Chlorophyll content was found to be positively correlated to stem diameter and height gain by the seedlings. It was therefore concluded that cocoa seedlings can be raised in polybags filled with a mixture of river sand and topsoil (1:1) for a period of six months provided foliar fertilizer is applied at the rate of 10 mls  NPK (10:10:10) in 15 litres of water at bi-weekly intervals.
VL  - 2
IS  - 4
ER  -

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