Nutrient contents and associated parameters for cocoa tree leaves, ripe cocoa pods and soil from 63 cocoa farms in Papua New Guinea in 2007

Nutrient status of cocoa grown in Papua New Guinea.

    Data Record Details
    Data record related to this publication Nutrient contents and associated parameters for cocoa tree leaves, ripe cocoa pods and soil from 63 cocoa farms in Papua New Guinea in 2007
    Data Publication title Nutrient contents and associated parameters for cocoa tree leaves, ripe cocoa pods and soil from 63 cocoa farms in Papua New Guinea in 2007
  • Description

    Nutrient status of cocoa grown in Papua New Guinea.

  • Other Descriptors
    • Descriptor

      Summary from associated report: Cocoa is grown by approximately 151,000 households in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Smallholders, who produce 80% of the crop, have annual yields far below the potential of 4.4 tonnes/hectare. Yields are low for many socioeconomic and agronomic reasons. The aim of this study was to determine the nutrient status of cocoa grown in PNG, and to recommend further steps to determine if there are nutrient-related constraints on productivity and how they might be overcome. Leaf and soil nutrient contents were measured and grower practices were recorded at 63 cocoa blocks (smallholders, on plantations or on research stations) across the country. A wide variety of plant species were present in blocks, with Gliricidia being the most common shade tree. Based on published ‘critical’ levels for cocoa leaf nutrient contents, nitrogen and iron deficiencies occurred in more than 89% of the blocks and phosphorus deficiencies in about 25%. Leaf magnesium concentrations were mostly adequate, except in East New Britain, where 64% of the blocks were deficient. Deficiencies of potassium, calcium, manganese, boron, copper and zinc were encountered in 2–15% of the blocks. However, the ‘critical’ levels must be regarded with caution, as the micronutrient (manganese, boron, copper, iron and zinc) values were based on surveys rather than manipulative experiments, and the macronutrient (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and calcium) values were established in different places with different planting materials. Leaf potassium and phosphorus contents were related to soil type and nutrient contents. In blocks that are being well maintained and regularly harvested, it is likely that yield is being constrained by nutrient deficiencies. Management of cocoa blocks in PNG must improve dramatically for the cocoa industry to prosper, and perhaps even to survive, particularly with the recent spread of cocoa pod borer, which is drastically reducing cocoa yields. To improve management and yields, the industry requires reliable critical levels of leaf nutrient concentrations, and nutrient management recommendations appropriate to different regions, based on trials. Effective means of facilitating adoption of improved practices must also be developed.

    • Descriptor type Full
    • Descriptor

      This dataset is discussed in the publication: Nelson PN, Webb MJ, Berthelsen S, Curry G, Yinil D and Fidelis C. 2011. Nutritional status of cocoa in Papua New Guinea. ACIAR Technical Report No. 76. The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, Canberra. 67 pp.

    • Descriptor type Note
    • Descriptor

      This dataset is available as a spreadsheet in MS Excel (.xlsx) and Open Document formats (.ods)

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    • Descriptor
    • Descriptor type Full
  • Data type dataset
  • Keywords
    • Nutrients
    • Soil fertility
    • Papua New Guinea
    • cocoa
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  • Research themes
    Tropical Ecosystems, Conservation and Climate Change
    Industries and Economies in the Tropics
    People and Societies in the Tropics
    Tropical Health, Medicine and Biosecurity
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  • Start Date 2007/01/01
  • End Date 2008/01/01
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    Spatial (location) coverage
  • Locations
    • Papua New Guinea
    Data Locations

    Type Location Notes
    Physical Location Dr Paul Nelson, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Building A2, Room 209, Cairns Campus James Cook University, PO Box 6811, Cairns Queensland 4870, Australia, Call: (+61) 7 4042 1375, Fax: (+61) 7 4042 1284
    Attachment Nutrient status of cocoa grown in Papua New Guinea Nelson et al 2011-ACIARTR76-data.zip
    The Data Manager is: Paul Nelson
    College or Centre
    Access conditions Open: free access under license
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  • Related publications
      Name Nelson PN, Webb MJ, Berthelsen S, Curry G, Yinil D and Fidelis C. 2011. Nutritional status of cocoa in Papua New Guinea. ACIAR Technical Report No. 76. The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, Canberra. 67 pp.
    • URL http://eprints.jcu.edu.au/15369/
    • Notes JCU Publication Repository copy of report
    • Name Nutritional status of cocoa in Papua New Guinea
    • URL http://aciar.gov.au/publication/TR076
    • Notes ACIAR copy of report
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    Citation Nelson, Paul; Berthelsen, Suzanne; Webb, Michael (2012): Nutrient contents and associated parameters for cocoa tree leaves, ripe cocoa pods and soil from 63 cocoa farms in Papua New Guinea in 2007. James Cook University. https://doi.org/10.4225/28/5743ED872A28C