Note on the mineral requirements of the cocoa plant

Abstract

One kg of dry cocoa beans contains, in grams: N--33.4; P-2.1; K-8.1; Mg-1 .9; S-0.9; in mg: B-12; Cu-16; Fe-80; Mn-28; Mo-0.04; Zn-47. The partially decomposed hulls left in the field showed the following composition on the dry matter basis: N-2.20%; P-0.05; K-2.40; Ca--0.51; Mg-0.32; S-0.12; B-16 ppm; Cu-16; Fe-368; Mn-56; M0-0.06 and Zn-93. Leaves (third from the apex of freshly matured flushing) collected in a high yielding plantation (2.6 t dry beans/ha) showed the following mineral composition: N-1.98%; P-0;17; K-2.20; Ca-0.73; Mg-0.29; S-0.19; B-25 ppm; Cu-14, Fe-87; Mn-134; MO-0.16; Zn-96.