How nutrient rich are decaying cocoa pod husks? The kinetics of nutrient leaching

Aim Recycling of cocoa pod husks has potential to contribute to mineral nutrition of cocoa. Yet little is known of the nutrient content and nutrient release patterns from the husks. The potassium (K) rich husks are usually left in heaps in cocoa plantations in Africa. We aimed to understand and quan...

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Autores principales: Hougni, D.G., Schut, Antonius G.T., Woittiez, Lotte Suzanne, Vanlauwe, Bernard, Giller, Kenneth E.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: Springer 2021
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/113367
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author Hougni, D.G.
Schut, Antonius G.T.
Woittiez, Lotte Suzanne
Vanlauwe, Bernard
Giller, Kenneth E.
author_browse Giller, Kenneth E.
Hougni, D.G.
Schut, Antonius G.T.
Vanlauwe, Bernard
Woittiez, Lotte Suzanne
author_facet Hougni, D.G.
Schut, Antonius G.T.
Woittiez, Lotte Suzanne
Vanlauwe, Bernard
Giller, Kenneth E.
author_sort Hougni, D.G.
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Aim Recycling of cocoa pod husks has potential to contribute to mineral nutrition of cocoa. Yet little is known of the nutrient content and nutrient release patterns from the husks. The potassium (K) rich husks are usually left in heaps in cocoa plantations in Africa. We aimed to understand and quantify release patterns of K and other nutrients from husks under varying rainfall regimes and assessed the effects of partial decomposition and inundation on nutrient leaching rates. Methods We incubated chunks of cocoa pod husks to assess decomposition rates and we measured nutrient leaching rates from two sets of husk chunks: one set was placed in tubes that were submitted to simulated scheduled rainfall events while the second set was continuously inundated in beakers. Results Decomposition of husks followed a second-order exponential curve (k: 0.09 day−1; ageing constant: 0.43). Nutrient losses recorded within 25 days were larger and more variable for K (33%) than for other macronutrients released in this order: Mg > Ca ≈ P > N (less than 15%). Potassium leaching was mainly driven by rainfall frequency (P < 0.05) and reinforced by intense rainfall, especially at lower frequency. Under water-saturated conditions, 11% of K was leached out within 48 h from fresh husks compared with 92% from partially decayed husks. Conclusion Some initial decomposition of cocoa pod husks is required to expose K to intense leaching. As decomposition progresses, abundant K losses are to be expected under frequent and/or intense rainfall events.
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spelling CGSpace1133672025-11-11T10:45:04Z How nutrient rich are decaying cocoa pod husks? The kinetics of nutrient leaching Hougni, D.G. Schut, Antonius G.T. Woittiez, Lotte Suzanne Vanlauwe, Bernard Giller, Kenneth E. nutrient cycles potassium cocoa pod leaching farmers agricultural practices Aim Recycling of cocoa pod husks has potential to contribute to mineral nutrition of cocoa. Yet little is known of the nutrient content and nutrient release patterns from the husks. The potassium (K) rich husks are usually left in heaps in cocoa plantations in Africa. We aimed to understand and quantify release patterns of K and other nutrients from husks under varying rainfall regimes and assessed the effects of partial decomposition and inundation on nutrient leaching rates. Methods We incubated chunks of cocoa pod husks to assess decomposition rates and we measured nutrient leaching rates from two sets of husk chunks: one set was placed in tubes that were submitted to simulated scheduled rainfall events while the second set was continuously inundated in beakers. Results Decomposition of husks followed a second-order exponential curve (k: 0.09 day−1; ageing constant: 0.43). Nutrient losses recorded within 25 days were larger and more variable for K (33%) than for other macronutrients released in this order: Mg > Ca ≈ P > N (less than 15%). Potassium leaching was mainly driven by rainfall frequency (P < 0.05) and reinforced by intense rainfall, especially at lower frequency. Under water-saturated conditions, 11% of K was leached out within 48 h from fresh husks compared with 92% from partially decayed husks. Conclusion Some initial decomposition of cocoa pod husks is required to expose K to intense leaching. As decomposition progresses, abundant K losses are to be expected under frequent and/or intense rainfall events. 2021-06 2021-04-15T12:17:22Z 2021-04-15T12:17:22Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/113367 en Open Access application/pdf Springer Hougni, D.G., Schut, A.G.T., Woittiez, L.S., Vanlauwe, B. & Giller, K.E. (2021). How nutrient rich are decaying cocoa pod husks? The kinetics of nutrient leaching. Plant and Soil, 1-16.
spellingShingle nutrient cycles
potassium
cocoa pod
leaching
farmers
agricultural practices
Hougni, D.G.
Schut, Antonius G.T.
Woittiez, Lotte Suzanne
Vanlauwe, Bernard
Giller, Kenneth E.
How nutrient rich are decaying cocoa pod husks? The kinetics of nutrient leaching
title How nutrient rich are decaying cocoa pod husks? The kinetics of nutrient leaching
title_full How nutrient rich are decaying cocoa pod husks? The kinetics of nutrient leaching
title_fullStr How nutrient rich are decaying cocoa pod husks? The kinetics of nutrient leaching
title_full_unstemmed How nutrient rich are decaying cocoa pod husks? The kinetics of nutrient leaching
title_short How nutrient rich are decaying cocoa pod husks? The kinetics of nutrient leaching
title_sort how nutrient rich are decaying cocoa pod husks the kinetics of nutrient leaching
topic nutrient cycles
potassium
cocoa pod
leaching
farmers
agricultural practices
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/113367
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