Evaluation of Soil Quality and Health Sustainability of Cocoa (Theobroma Cacao) Crop in Two Production Systems, Morona, Santiago, Ecuador

Authors

  • Juan Haro

    Morona Santiago Technology Innovation Research Group, Higher Polytechnic School of Chimborazo, 14060 Macas, Ecuador
  • Maribel Chillogallo

    Independent Researcher, Morona Santiago Technology Innovation Research Group, 14060 Macas, Ecuador
  • William Carrillo

    Morona Santiago Technology Innovation Research Group, Higher Polytechnic School of Chimborazo, 14060 Macas, Ecuador
  • Carla Haro

    Morona Santiago Technology Innovation Research Group, Higher Polytechnic School of Chimborazo, 14060 Macas, Ecuador
  • Cristian Jara

    Morona Santiago Technology Innovation Research Group, Higher Polytechnic School of Chimborazo, 14060 Macas, Ecuador

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.30564/jees.v7i1.7600
Received: 26 October 2024 | Revised: 5 November 2024 | Accepted: 7 November 2024 | Published Online: 23 December 2024

Abstract

The productive evaluation of cocoa in this research is proposed through an assessment of soil quality and crop health in an organic production system (SPO) Taisha canton and a conventional production system (SPCv) Morona canton. Methodology: Altieri and Nicholls establish a diagnosis of chemical, physical, biological and health indicators, with weightings high (10), medium (5) and low (1). Results: SPO soil quality, reflects weights 10 (high) for ammonium ion, zinc, copper, iron, manganese, moisture retention, biological activity, compaction, apparent density, residue status, color, organic matter, root development, erosion incidence; 5 (medium) potassium, phosphorus, calcium, sulfur, pH, texture; 1 (low) magnesium, boron, topsoil depth, for crop health values ​​of 10 (high) appearance, crop growth, stress resistance or tolerance, weed competition, agrosilvopastoral system, plant diversity and management system, 5 (medium) potential yield, incidence of pests and diseases. The SPCv soil quality presented a weighting of 10 (high) for nitrogen, zinc, copper, iron, biological activity, compaction, bulk density, color, organic matter, root development, erosion incidence; 5 (medium) manganese, pH, texture, moisture retention, residue status; 1 (low) potassium, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, boron, topsoil depth; crop health 10 (high) crop appearance and growth, stress resistance or tolerance, weed competition, agrosilvopastoral system, plant diversity, management system, potential yield, 5 (medium) incidence of pests and diseases, 1 (low) surrounding natural diversity. Conclusions: The SPO for soil quality: 7.41 and for crop health: 7.59 weighted as sustainable, while the SPCv for soil quality: 6 and crop health: 6.76, resulting in a moderately sustainable production system.

Keywords:

Quality; Crop Health; Cocoa; Organic; Conventional

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How to Cite

Haro, J., Chillogallo, M., Carrillo, W., Haro, C., & Jara, C. (2025). Evaluation of Soil Quality and Health Sustainability of Cocoa (Theobroma Cacao) Crop in Two Production Systems, Morona, Santiago, Ecuador. Journal of Environmental & Earth Sciences, 7(1), 306–320. https://doi.org/10.30564/jees.v7i1.7600

Issue

Vol. 7 , Iss. 1 (January 2025): In Progress

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Article

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Copyright © 2025 Juan Haro, Maribel Chillogallo, William Carrillo, Carla Haro, Cristian Jara

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This is an open access article under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) License.

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