Characterization of cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) phenology under Type III climate
2019
Protacio, C.M. | Lagrimas, A.J.M. | Del Rio, S.P. | Salazar, B.M. | Gonzaga, A.B.Jr. | Cena, R.B. | Sarausa, D.N. | Cantil, D.M.N.
Smart agriculture calls for location-specific data of weather parameters vis-a-vis growth responses. The study aims to characterize the annual production cycle of cacao, from flowering to harvesting, to become strong bases in recommending specific practices ahead of time, given a climate outlook. Phenology was characterized using the Biologische Bundesanstalt Bundassorternamt CHemische Industrie (BBCH) scale for cacao. Flowers (BBCH 51-69), cherelles (BBCH 70-75), pods (BBCH 76-89) and leaf flushing intensity per tree were monitored monthly in different locations under Type III Climate, from October, 2018 to May During the dry months, January to March, flowering intensity was low. UPLB in Los Baños, Laguna [Philippines], where the average rainfall was 15.33 mm, had an average of 78.7 flowers monthly. Kabacan, North Cotabato, represented by USM, maintained higher number of flowers with 521.3 despite having received the lowest rainfall. During this time was also a low leaf flushing intensity. Since there were low number of flowers during the dry months, low number of cherelles were observed in the following months in all sites. Therefore, low to no harvest is likely 5 to 6 moths after. In April, when rainfall started to increase, flowering also intensified. UPLB [University of the Philippines Los Baños] and USM [University of Southern Mindanao] had more than 1,100 flowers per tree. In May, number of flowers in UPLB jumped to 2,400 corresponding to an increase in rainfall from 32.8 mm in April to 160 mm. High number of flowers in April was followed by higher number of cherelles in May. The data, so far, suggest that climate controls the scheduling of harvesting peaks by affecting the intensity of flowering and sustenance of fruit development.
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