COCOA AND TOTAL SYSTEM YIELDS OF ORGANIC AND CONVENTIONAL AGROFORESTRY VS. MONOCULTURE SYSTEMS IN A LONG-TERM FIELD TRIAL IN BOLIVIA

Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) is produced in systems of varying complexity ranging from monoculture with temporary shade to highly diverse agroforests. Producers have to weigh high cocoa yields in the short to medium term in monocultures against higher total system yields in the short term and sustaina...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Experimental agriculture 2017-07, Vol.53 (3), p.351-374
Main Authors: SCHNEIDER, M., ANDRES, C., TRUJILLO, G., ALCON, F., AMURRIO, P., PEREZ, E., WEIBEL, F., MILZ, J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural production
Agriculture
Agroforestry
Agronomy
Biodiversity
Cocoa
Cocoa industry
Crop diversification
Crop yield
Cultivars
Ecosystem services
Ecosystems
Farmers
Food
Food security
Monoculture
Physiology
Research centers
Rice
Soil fertility
Sustainable production
Trees
Trends
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Summary:Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) is produced in systems of varying complexity ranging from monoculture with temporary shade to highly diverse agroforests. Producers have to weigh high cocoa yields in the short to medium term in monocultures against higher total system yields in the short term and sustainable production systems in the long term in conjunction with ecosystem services in agroforestry systems (AFs). More long-term data on the comparative agronomic, economic and ecological performance of differently managed cocoa production systems is required to make sound recommendations to farmers. This paper describes the only long-term field trial worldwide comparing different cocoa production systems under conventional and organic management. The factors (i) crop diversity (monoculture vs. agroforestry), (ii) management practice (conventional vs. organic) and (iii) cultivar are being tested in a full-factorial, randomized complete block design with four replications. First, results showed significantly faster development of trunk circumferences in monocultures (+21%) compared to AFs. Cocoa yields were 47% lower in the organic compared to the conventional monoculture. In the AFs, however, the organic–conventional yield gap was less pronounced (−16%) and statistically insignificant. The cumulative yields of all products harvested were significantly higher in the AFs (+161%) compared to the monocultures. The productivity of cocoa by-crops in AFs may contribute to local food security and risk distribution in smallholder contexts.
ISSN:0014-4797
1469-4441
DOI:10.1017/S0014479716000417