Tree performance is regulated by hydraulic conductance and water relations : implications for increased cocoa productivity
2006
Samuel, Agele, Federal Univ. of Technology, PMB 704, Akure (Nigeria), Dept. of Crop, Soil and Pest Management
The humid tropics where the world's cocoa is produced is characterised by wet and dry season transitions, biotic and abiotic stresses and rainfed agriculture. In circumstances of these constraints is the huge task of sustainable and increased productivity with limited resources. Soil-plant-atmosphere coupling (SPAC) explains the control exercised by the soil and atmospheric conditions (environments) on plant processes. Also, whole plant hydraulic conductance can limit whole tree performance measured in terms water use (transpiration), carbon gain and growth. Therefore, if transport suficiency is linked to performance in trees, there is need to confirm the necessity of high whole plant hydraulic conductance for high productivity in cacao. Water ecophysiological research present relevant options to overcome constraints associated with cacao production from the perspectives of plant-soil interactions and crop-soil manipulation. This is indispensab le to the development of accelerated technological development for sustainable rainfed agriculture, and therefore to crops and production technology for tomorrow. It is necessary to explore the application of key research achievements in water ecophysiological and soil-plant-atmosphere in the strategies for increased cacao production in the different growing seasons in humid tropics.
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