Item: Major practice in the cultural management practices of Cacao (Theobroma caca L. var. Trinitario ) beans production [manuscript]
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Date
2019
Authors
Grosnie P. De Jesus
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Abstract
The major practice was conducted at the Department of Crop science Pamology Project Area, College of Agriculture, Central Luzon State University, Science City of Muñoz, Nueva Ecija from August 2018 to March 2019.
The general objective of the major practice was to acquire firsthand experienced in cacao (Theobroma cacao L. var. Trinitario) beans production. The specific objectives were to enhance the knowledge of the student and developed skills in cacao bean production and to produced 20 kg of cacao beans.
During the conduct of the major practice, the student was able to developed skills involved in the actual cultural management practices of cacao such as removal of water sprouts, irrigation, pruning, pesticide application, harvesting, fermentation and drying and marketing and were be familiarized to the rules and regulations of the project for the release of inputs, equipment and others. A total yield of 12 kg dry seeds was produced from 15 cacao trees lower than the 20 kg objective.
The major practice student enhanced the knowledge and developed the skills in proper cultural management practices suc as removal of water sprouts, pruning, pesticides application, irrigation, harvesting fermentation and drying.
The recorded growth and yield of Trinitario variety during the conduct of the major practice was presented in table 2. the morphological traits were based on caco link congress (2017). The average number of lateral was 3 per tree. The average leaf length is 37.77cm while average leaf width of 11.44 cm. The average pods per tree was 18.33 with total number of pods harvested of 275 and produced 12 kg of cacao beans. The average pod length was 14.35 cm, with an average pod width of 7.53 cm and an average pod wall thickness is 1.42 cm. The average mummified pods per tree was 15.47 while the average number of ridges per pod was 10 ridges, as well as the average weight of pod was 361.72 g. The average number of beans recorded per pod was about 44 beans. In terms of the average bean length, it was recorded 2.42 cm while the average bean width was 1.41 cm and the average bean thickness was 0.78 cm. The average number of formed beans per pod was 38.2 beans while the average deformed beans per pod was 5.4 deformed beans. The average weight of 10 fresh beans per pod of each sample pod was 16.87 g, while dry beans of 10.55. meanwhile the color of pods was red wine when young and turns to yellow orange when it mature. The observed color of beans was red wine. The presence of mealy bugs were observed during the major practice. The common observed disease was rot in other sample trees.
Fifteen Trinitario variety cacao trees were identified in cacao field using the morphological traits. The objective to produce 20 kg of roasted cacao beans was not attain, because of high occurence of mummified podsand lack of security measure. It is recommended to continue the production of cacao seeds through proper cultural management practices since it commands high value in the market.