Journal article
The effects of tree spacing regime and tree species composition on mineral nutrient composition of cocoa beans and canarium nuts in 8-year-old cocoa plantations
Environmental Science and Pollution Research, Vol.26(21), pp.22021-22029
2019
Abstract
The selection of shade trees with appropriate spacing is important for minimising their impact on nutrient accumulation by understorey cash crops in agroforestry systems. Cocoa trees may be intercropped with overstorey legume or non-legume shade trees. A legume tree and/or a non-legume timber tree with edible kernels (Gliricidia sepium and Canarium indicum, respectively) are used as shade trees in cocoa plantations particularly in Papua New Guinea. This study explored the nutrient concentrations of cocoa beans in response to both tree-shade species and shade-tree spacing regime. The study also investigated the extent to which C. indicum tree spacing altered the nutrient concentrations of canarium kernels. G. sepium trees in the study had a final spacing of 12 m × 12 m while the spacing regimes of either 8 m × 8 m or 8 m × 16 m used for C. indicum. The calcium (Ca) concentrations of cocoa beans did not differ significantly between plants located next to G. sepium and plants located next to C. indicum. Cocoa beans next to C. indicum trees with spacing of 8 m × 16 m had higher potassium (K) concentrations than those next to G. sepium trees. However, phosphorus (P) concentrations of cocoa beans next to C. indicum trees with spacing of 8 m × 8 m or next to G. sepium trees were significantly higher than those next to C. indicum trees with spacing of 8 m × 16 m. The K concentrations in cocoa beans and soil were not correlated nor were the P concentrations in cocoa beans and soil. Correlations between nutrients in leaves and cocoa beans, or between leaves and canarium kernels, were not strong. Our results suggest that cocoa and canarium trees can be intercropped successfully, and that they do not compete for soil nutrients.
Details
- Title
- The effects of tree spacing regime and tree species composition on mineral nutrient composition of cocoa beans and canarium nuts in 8-year-old cocoa plantations
- Authors
- Shahla Hosseini Bai (Author) - University of the Sunshine CoastStephen J Trueman (Author) - University of the Sunshine CoastTio Nevenimo (Author) - National Agricultural Research Institute, Papua New GuineaGodfrey Hannet (Author) - National Agricultural Research Institute, Papua New GuineaBruce Randall (Author) - University of the Sunshine CoastHelen M Wallace (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
- Publication details
- Environmental Science and Pollution Research, Vol.26(21), pp.22021-22029
- Publisher
- Springer
- DOI
- 10.1007/s11356-019-05519-x
- ISSN
- 0944-1344
- Organisation Unit
- University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; GeneCology Research Centre - Legacy; School of Science and Engineering - Legacy
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99451349702621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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