Trends in Biosciences

Afield experiment to study the influence of fertigation through drip and micro sprinkler of N, P and K fertilizers on quality parameters of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) was conducted at the Department of Spices and Plantation Crops, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore during January 2010 to December 2011. The experiment was laid out with thirteen treatments replicated thrice ina randomized block design. Incocoa, apart from bean weight, the quality is determined by fat, polyphenol and protein content. The study revealed that, fertigation with 125 per cent RDF (Recommended Dose of Fertilizer) as water soluble fertilizer through fertigation by drip irrigation recorded the highest quality parameters viz., bean fat content (51.88 per cent), polyphenol content (76.45 mg g⁻¹), protein content (15.39 per cent) respectively.