EFFECTS OF PRUNING AND NITROGEN FERTILIZATION ON FLUSHING AND POD PRODUCTION IN CACAO

Background. Maintenance pruning is an essential activity in cacao in order to maintain height, avoid intersections of branches between trees, and generate new foliar shoots. Usually, fertilization is applied at the same time as pruning, but there are little information when it should be applied to synchronize with the metabolic events triggered when pruning. The application of N, its effectiveness and the effect of different doses is very important, but there is very little known. Objective. To evaluate the effect of the fertilization of two doses of N (50 and 110 g per tree) before, during and after pruning on flushing, number of cherelles (pods smaller than 5 cm in length) and pods, fresh weight and numbers of almonds in trees which are 8 years old. Methodology. a split-plot design was established. Main plot was assigned to pruning (pruning and without pruning) and sub plots the doses of nitrogen fertilization and the time of application factor. One week after fertilization, the number of flushing emissions, cherelles and number of pods in different stages were counted weekly in 4 trees per treatment until week 20. Mature pods also were harvested and the number of almonds and fresh weight were counted. Results. Pruning affected the flushing, shortening the periods between maximum emissions. The application of N in doses of 110 g/tree one week after pruning leads to a higher and significant number of flushing number of cherelles and number of pods. Implications Pruning does not influence the production parameters, but the greater availability of N given in the higher applied dose leads to a greater number of pods and fresh weight. The greater availability of N after pruning leads to a more efficient use for the formation of new pods. greater number of almonds and greater fresh weight. Conclusion. These results show that nitrogen fertilization carried out after pruning is a feasible strategy to achieve a number of flushing, pods and production.