Soil health and synergy of ecological determinants of green cocoa productivity in different soil ecotypes in Ghana

IntroductionSoil health is critical for the efficient management of soil fertility and crop yield in "green" cocoa (GC) (Theobroma cacao L.) agroforestry systems. However, knowledge about agroecosystem factors that affect healthy soil productivity in "green" cocoa agroforestry systems is patchy in West Africa. Based on organic cocoa (OC) and conventional cocoa (CC) agroforestry systems in Ghana, this study examined the soil health and synergy of ecological factors that determine the yield of GC. MethodsUsing multi-stage random sampling, 11 CC and 11 OC farms were sampled from three soil types (ferralsols, lixisols, and leptosols) within selected agroecological zones. Socioeconomic and farm data, including bulked soil samples, were collected at 0-30 cm depth for analysis of soil chemical and physical properties. ResultsThe results showed intricate relationships between the ecological factors and the yield of GC (1.07 t ha(-1)), which comprised dry beans of OC (1.24 t ha(-1)) and CC (0.89 t ha(-1)). The green cocoa yield increased for fields owned by female farmers and for native farmers who inherited or outrightly owned farmlands. The cocoa yield was also positively related to physicochemical factors such as soil organic carbon (0.21%), pH (5.8), and carbon-nitrogen ratio (40.8%). The carbon-nitrogen ratio and pH together exerted the highest positive influence (0.62%) on the yield. Biological factors such as plant density (>7 cocoa trees per 23.4 m(2)) and black pod rots reduced the cocoa yield. DiscussionThis study provides comprehensive empirical determinants of green cocoa productivity and offers a more reliable estimate of cocoa plant density. The findings suggest that Ghana's cocoa can be much greener if stakeholders promote healthy farm soil productivity and empower women who engage in soil organic carbon-conserving agroforestry.