INTRODUCTION
nany crop, good production and income start with
the best establishment practices and management
of a variety being produced. Aside from choosing
the best variety, propagation techniques and
management of seedlings in the nursery, good farm
management practices during establishment and
maintenance of cacao contributes to high and
sustainable production of the crop.
Clearing the Area
The system used in clearing
the area depend so much
on the existing vegetation,
whether it is a previously
cropped area, cogonal
field, second growths or
virgin forest. In previously
cropped areas, manual,
mechanical or chemical
weeding can be used to
control weeds like cogon
and talahib.
Establishment of Roads and Drainage Networks
In large farms, roads should be a major consideration
and spaced 200 meters apart. Roads should always
be laid out across the slope or along contours. When
necessary, roads of three meters wide should be
provided with side drain as interceptor.
Drainage is important in the farm as conveyance for
excess water that could uproot cacao trees and wash
away top soil. In sloping and the hilly areas, drainage
canals may not be necessary. The spacing distance
and dimension of canals and slope gradient depends
on the topography of the area.
1Establishment of Shade
Shade is important for cacao plants during seedling
or immature stage. Cacao cannot tolerate high
light intensity since scalding of leaves can result. In
open areas, shade plantsor nurse trees should be
established at least six months before field planting.
Shade trees should be planted parallel to the
planting lines.
Permanent shade crops that have thin canopy, tall
trunk and do not defoliate seasonally are ideal to
intercrop with cocoa trees for long perods. Among
the recommended shade trees are ipil-ipil, madre
de cacao, pigeon pea, coconut, cashew, longan,
durian or banana. If the area to be planted is a
second growth or virgin forest, it is better to preserve
some trees to serve as shade. In exposed areas,
coconut fronds may be used as shade to prevent
direct exposure of cacao plants to sunlight.
Staking and Spacing
Spacing or planting distance depends on population,
cropping system, variety and shade condition.
Divide the land area into desired distance. Use a
string or thin rope to align the rows. Drive pegs where
dividing lines meet to mark the place where holes
will be made.
Most common distance are:
¢ High density = 1.5 x 2.0 x 6.0 m = 2,300
trees /ha in double hedge row planting.
¢ Low density = 3 x 2m = 1,666 plants/ha or 2.5 x
2.5 m = 1,600 plants/ha.
Dependeing on the existing shade trees and soil
fertility, the planting density of cacao varies from 400
to 1,100 plants per hectare. In case of intercropping
in coconut and cashew, the density of cacao
averages about 600 plants per hectare.
2Hole Digging
During planting, remove
pegs and dig holes in the
pegged area big enough to
accommodate the ball of the
soil mass. Normally, a hole
with a depth and diameter of
30 cm wide x 30cm long and
30 cm deep is enough.
In prepararing holes, the surface soil (6" deep) should
be separated from the subsoil. This is used to cover
the base of the ball of soil holding the seedling.
Plant immediately after digging holes to preserve the
available moisture in the soil.
Planting
Plant cacao seedlings
early morning or late in
the afternoon. Transplant
five to eight months old
seedlings. Itis not advisable
to plant seedling with
young and soft flush leaves
as they are susceptible to
sunburn, planting shocks or stress.
Best season to plant in the field is during the onset of
the rainy season.
Before transplanting the
seedlings, fill half of the
hole with soil mixed with 14-
14-14 fertilizer at the rate of
250 grams per hole. Cover
the ball of soil attached to
the seedlings with the top
soil.Mulching
Mulching preserves
soil moisture, prevents
the growth of weeds,
becomes a source of
organic maiter and
improves the structure
and texture of the
soil. If makes the soil
more porous thus
promoting better root
development. Mulching
should be done during dry season when soil moisture
easily evaporates and weeds germinate fast.
Weed the area before
mulching. Coconut
husks, banana leaves,
coconut fronds, paper
cement bags, rice
straw, cogon, or any
other weedscut during
ring weeding can be
used as mulch.
Weeding
Weeding can be done either manually or with the
use of chemicals. Ring weeeding is commonly used
where weeds within the radius of one meter from the
stem are removed using a sickle. The weeds cut are
placed back around the base of the plant to serve
as mulch.CROP MAINTENANCE
Fertilization
Apply the following recommended fertilizers at
proper time.
Age of Trees | Fertilizer Grades ge
(Years) |(Per ha per year) Application
At planting | 5 bags 14-14-14 | Applied at
( 1,000 trees pranting pee
ver hectare] 250 grams per
hole mixed with
decomposed
chicken dung
or other organic
fertilizer like
compost or farm
manure
Young trees |4 bags 12-24-12 | Mixed and applied
up to 3 years}1 bag Urea in 2 equal doses:
(45-0-0) Ist at the start
1 bag Muriate of | of rainy season
Potash (300g/tree}
(0-0-60) 2nd before end of
rainy season (300
g/tree)
Over 3 years |10 bags Mixed and
14-14-14 applied in 2
equdi doses:
1 bag Urea Ist at the start of
1 bag Muriate rainy season (300
/tree)
of Potash nd before end
of rainyseason
(300 g/tree)Methods of Application
1. When the land is level and tree canopy is not
overlapped, spread the recommended fertilizer
in a narrow band around the tree directly
beneath the canopy.
2. \f the tree canopies are overlapping, the root
system is also interlocking. The fertilizer should
be evenly broadcasted both between the trees
in the row and between trees between rows,
depending on the planting pattern.
3. Deep placement in undulating terrain is
recommended to reduce nutrient losses through
run-off.
4. In weedy plantations, ring weeding should be
done prior to fertilizer application to prevent
nutrient competition with weeds.
5. Ifirrigation system is available, the recommended
Nitrogen and Potash may be fertigated.
Pruning
Pruning allows sunlight to penetrate the crown of the
growing trees. Practice pruning to remove diseased
branches, for uniform branching and enhance
fruiting.
After harvesting during dry season, prune mature
trees of unhealthy twigs and chupons (tender,
succulent vertical branch/shoots.).
Top pruning of the highest branches (up to four
meters) to keep the tree short for easy harvesting
and maintenance.
After pruning, apply coal tar or white lead paint on
cut surface to avoid entrance of organisms and
rotting of cut branches.
After pruning, apply the recommended fertilizer.Rehabilitation of Old Cacao Trees by Side Grafting
Rehabilitation can be carried out by removal or
replacement of existing unproductive trees through
side grafting or bark grafting. In side grafting,
use scions from high yielding plants to side graft
unproductive trees in the plantation.
Steps in Side Grafting:
Prepare budsticks from superior
trees. (National Seed Industry
Council registered variety)
Make horizontal deep cut on
the main trunk of Unproductive
trees. The cut should be through
the bark to the white wood inside.
Make two cuts downward from
the horizontal cut.
Create window by peeling
the bark neatly downward
to reveal the white sapwood
(cambium) inside.
Insert budstick into the window.
Close window and tie with
straw. Cover with plastic bag.
Remove plastic bag after one
month.Repeat the same step with the 2nd and 3rd
cuts.Each tree should have three grafts at 30
cm apart.
Cut the main tree with chain saw at least one
foot above the grafts in a slanting manner.
Brrr coal tar or paint on the cut portion.
Ringweed the stump one foot around and
apply organic fertilizer.
] Monitor and control pests and diseases
regularly.