EFFECTS OF SOIL AMENDMENTS ON EARLY GROWTH OF CACAO SEEDLINGS USING ACIDIC RED SOIL FROM SITIO KAPATAGAN, GUPITAN, KAPALONG
Keywords:
Acidic Soil, Plant Growth, Soil Amendments, Soil pH, VermicompostAbstract
Cacao (Theobroma cacao) production is often constrained by highly acidic soils that limit nutrient availability and hinder early seedling development. This experimental study aimed to determine the effects of various organic soil amendments on the growth performance of cacao seedlings under acidic soil conditions in Barangay Gupitan. Five treatments, T1 (Control), T2 (Vermicompost + Chicken dung, T3 (Chicken dung + Carbonized Rice Hull, T4 (Vermicompost + Carbonized Rice Hull), and T5 (Vermicompost + Chicken Dung + Carbonized Rice Hull), were evaluated using a randomized complete block design. Growth parameters, including seedling vigor index, seedling height, number of leaves, stem diameter, leaf length, leaf width, shoot length, and root length, were measured at multiple intervals. Results showed significant improvements across most growth indicators in plants treated with organic amendments. T5 consistently produced the highest seedling height, leaf dimensions, stem diameter, and shoot length, while T4 recorded the highest seedling vigor index and root length. The findings demonstrated that the combined application of vermicompost, chicken dung, and carbonized rice hull markedly enhanced cacao seedlings' growth in acidic soil. These results suggest that organic amendments can serve as effective, sustainable options for improving cacao establishment in marginal soils.
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