Choice of land for cocoa planting

For the cocoa tree to develop correctly, it needs a soil with good structure, permeable and deep, since cocoa has pivoting roots that go deep into the soil and its ramifications or secondary roots that grow near the surface together with the absorbent hairs that are where the nutrients are absorbed, for which FRANCO soils are needed, little clay.

It is always recommended to leave some shade in cocoa crops, so it is not suggested to clear a field completely, but always leave a minimum of 12 trees per hectare, which can be fruit trees, timber or others. In the past, land was cleared for planting, cutting down or cutting completely the existing vegetation and proceeding to burn the debris, this caused the destruction of the microflora in the soil which affected the absorption of nutrients and in turn, the land was exposed to the sun and rain which causes erosion and the soil becomes less fertile.

When planting cocoa trees, the appropriate planting density should be considered, taking into account factors such as climate, availability and soil types, the recommended spacing is 2.5 to 3 meters between rows and plants, approximately 1,000 to 1,600 seedlings per hectare, so you can make the most of the land.

Cadmium, how to reduce its impact
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What is Cadmium (Cd)? It is a heavy metal, considered to be one of the most toxic metals found in nature. What damage can it cause to the human body? This element of nature can cause toxicity to a person’s body if inhaled, ingested or drunk in high levels. It can cause damage to the […]

Uso del agua en plantaciones de cacao
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Water is the most precious and fundamental natural resource for the development of cocoa; Ecuador is a country privileged with this resource, since it has many sources of fresh water in some sectors where cocoa is produced, but there are other sectors that depend on rainwater storage and have been affected by prolonged periods of […]

GrandSur Why is important a good cocoa production
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Stats from the World Cocoa Organization indicate that 70% of this activity is developed in Asia and Africa and is the livelihood of many communities that currently have socio-economic problems. The lack of means in these populations in many cases do not allow the production of sustainable cocoa or the implementation of “good practices” for […]