Influence of Drip Fertigation on Physiological Characters in Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.)

Field experiment was conducted at the Department of Spices and Plantation Crops, Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore during 2012–2013 to find out the influence of drip fertigation on physiological characters in cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.). The experiment was laid out with seven treatments replicated three times in a randomized block design. The results revealed that among the different treatments tried, application of 125 per cent ‘Recommended Dose of Fertilizers’ as water soluble fertilizers (WSF) through drip irrigation has resulted in a superior performance by the physiological parameters viz, total chlorophyll content (2.190 mg g⁻¹) and nitrate reductase (1.389 ìg of NO₂ g⁻¹ h-¹) and peroxidase activity (0.914 D430 nm g⁻¹h⁻¹).