Abstract

LOPEZ JUAREZ, Sergio Alexander; SOL-SANCHEZ, Ángel; CORDOVA AVALOS, Víctor  and  GALLARDO LOPEZ, Felipe. Effect of pruning on cocoa plantations in the state of Tabasco, Mexico. Rev. Mex. Cienc. Agríc [online]. 2016, vol.7, n.spe14, pp.2807-2815. ISSN 2007-0934.

The objective of this research was to evaluate the productivity of cacao agroecosystem in response to crown pruning in the field San Francisco located in the municipality of Cardenas, Tabasco. In the study site counted total cocoa trees: recording 125 individuals; where 65 trees belonged to treatment 1: cocoa with 50% shade and 60 individuals to treatment 2: cocoa with 80% shade. The variables measured were diameter at breast height (DAP1.3), total height and counted each terminal bud of cacao tree and recorded the amount of fruits per treatment. The amount of terminal buds was higher for treatment 1 with 731 buds while in treatment 2 were 574. Terminal buds were closer to the ground in treatment A than in the treatment B, coupled to this, the number of fruits per tree was higher for treatment A. Performing the statistical analysis resulted that treatment A is better to increase production. It was concluded that crown pruning is an alternative to increase cocoa productivity; it only requires a few expenses and good assessment to perform this technique.

Keywords : buds; cacao plantation; diameter; productivity.