Effect of selected physical and chemical factors on yield, pests and diseases of cocoa in Uganda

Abstract

This research investigated the influence of altitude and selected soil properties on yield, pests and diseases of cocoa in the three cocoa growing regions in Uganda. With that objective, in each region, 34 cocoa farmers in each of the selected regions of Central, Eastern and Western, making up a total of 102 farmers. The 102 farmers were questioned about their yields, pests and diseases while soil samples were taken. The soil was analysed for its chemical properties which included organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, calcium and magnesium. Overall, pod rot is attributed to altitude and soil properties of nitrogen, magnesium, organic matter and Verticillium wilt were correlated with a high positive significant relationship (p<0.01), a majority of farmers had a considerably low productivity. Using correlation analysis, it was found that multiple soil properties of organic matter, calcium, nitrogen, are significantly related with pests and diseases. However, due to the time and scope of this study and the lack of research on the effect of varieties, management practices on the yield, few causal links could be established.