Global Advanced Research Journal of Agricultural Science (GARJAS) ISSN: 2315-5094

January 2013 Vol. 2(1): pp. 041-046

Copyright © 2015 Global Advanced Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Growth of theobroma cacao seedlings in the presence of Digitaria Insularis weeds.

Oppong FK,  Adade K, Opoku Ameyaw K and Johnson V.

Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, P.O. Box 8, Tafo-Akim, Ghana

*Corresponding Author’s E-mail: foppong@crig.org

Accepted 14 January, 2013

Abstract

An experiment to evaluate the growth of Theobroma cacao L. seedlings in the presence of Digitaria insularis (L.) Mez ex Ekman was conducted at the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana in 2008. Hybrid cocoa and D. insularis seeds were sown in soil-filled polythene bags measuring 25 cm x 37.5 cm.  One cocoa seedling and 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4 D. Insularis seedlings (equivalent to 0, 20, 40, 60 or 80 seedlings m^-2) were maintained in each polythene bag 3 weeks after sowing.  The D. Insularis seedlings were either slashed at 5 cm above the soil level at intervals of 6 or 10 weeks or not slashed during the entire period of the trial.  The experiment was laid out as 5 x 3 factorial with 6 replicates.  The growth of the cocoa seedlings was significantly reduced (P≤ 0.05) in the presence of D. Insularisseedlings at 23 weeks after sowing. Stomatal conductance, rates of transpiration and photosynthesis were lower in cocoa grown without D. insularis than those grown with D. insularis.  Leaving D. insularis unslashed or slashing at 10 weeks intervals, adversely affected the growth of the cocoa seedlings.  Slashing D. insularis at 6 weeks intervals could not completely eliminate the competitive effects of the weed on the cocoa seedlings, suggesting that clean weeding close to the soil level is important in ensuring good growth of young cocoa among D. insularis weeds.

Keywords: Theobroma Cacoa seedlings, Digitaria Insularis weeds.