A PRELIMINARY STUDY ON EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF FERTIGATION THROUGH DRIP AND SPRINKLER SYSTEMS FOR MATURE COCOA CULTIVATION
Authors: Hanif Fahmi, M. Z.*, Jenrry, S. and Azizul Rahman, S.
Journal Issue: Malaysian Cocoa Journal, Volume 16/2024
Keywords: Fertigation, drip, sprinkler, irrigation systems, mature cocoa cultivation
Published On: 1/10/2024
Abstract
This paper presents an evaluation of the effectiveness of fertigation towards mature cocoa cultivation in CRDC Madai involving the implementation of a fertigation system using drip and sprinkler irrigation for cocoa plants (Theobroma cacao). Objectives of the research are to determine the best irrigation system which can be applied for farmers based on the pod collection analysis results obtained from the experiment. Fertigation, the simultaneous application of water and fertilizers through an irrigation system, has gained attention as an efficient method to enhance nutrient uptake and water efficiency in various crops.. In addition, plant nutrients supplied using dilute AB fertilizer shows the best result in producing high yield instead of granule fertilizer. Besides that, initial soil sampling shows that the soils are acidic with pH value of 4 and 5 compare to optimum pH value for productive soil of 6.5 and 7. Thus, results from these preliminary studies shows potential irrigation systems that are most suitable for cocoa cultivation are sprinkler systems with the highest pod collected during throughout the experiment compare to drip irrigation system although the initial cost of RM 10, 000 are high for farmers but worth every penny invested to the systems with future yield expected and reducing the load for farmers during fertilizing season.