OPTIMISATION DE LA TENEUR POTASSIQUE DU CACAO AU MOYEN DUNE FERTILISATION ORGANIQUE DUN SOL EN CHAMPS SEMENCIER

This study consisted in the improvement of the potassium content of cocoa beans by the use of an organic fertilizer on farm. This for the potassium and physico-chemical characteristics of cocoa are largely determined by the nutrient profile of the crop soil. Thus, three doses of a rapid compost, hereafter T1 (1300 Kg/ha), T2 (1950 Kg/ha) and T3 (2600 Kg/ha), were used to treat in March and July 2018, an experimental Fischer block device, with three replicates, i. e. 4 subplots in total, in Koffikro, Duekoue, against T0 control (without organic fertilizer). The potassium of cocoa, at its stages of floral development, cherries, mature pods, especially beans and pericarp, was volumetrically measured with silver nitrate. The results showed that the average potassium concentration reached 1823.15 mg/Kg of cocoa bean dry matter, with comparison to the value of 1519.75 mg/Kg for the control T0. Numerical analysis of the results revealed a significant optimization of cocoa potash by the T2 dose. The effect of that organic fertilizer decreased under the T3 and T1 doses respectively regarding the two main harvests. This underlines the need of cocoa soils fertilization with organic fertilizers of Huvert type. Since such results will reduce the processes and costs of alkalinization of cocoa masses in industry, while increasing the market and nutritional values of cocoa.