The success of sustainable Theobroma cacao (cocoa) production depends on the physical and chemical properties of the soils on which they are established but these are possibly moderated by the management approach that farmers adopt. We assessed and compared soil physico-chemical properties of young, mature and old organic and conventional cocoa agroforestry systems at two depths (0–15 and 15–30 cm) and evaluated the production of cocoa pods, banana and plantain in the two farm types. Cocoa farms under organic management had 20, 81, 88 and 323% higher stocks of soil organic carbon, P, Mn and Cu, respectively, compared to those under conventional management. Higher soil moisture content, electrical conductivity and pH were found on organic systems than the conventional farms. Annual cocoa pod production per tree was similar in both cocoa systems (Org. 10.1 ± 1.1 vs Con. 10.1 ± 0.6 pods per tree). The annual production of banana and plantain was higher on organic farms (186.3 ± 34.70 kg ha−1 yr−1) than conventional systems (31.6 ± 9.58 kg ha−1 yr−1). We concluded that organic management of cocoa agroforestry systems result in soils with the greater overall quality for cocoa production than conventional management and it increases the yield of co-products. Studies focusing on the impact of organic management on cocoa agroforestry systems at the landscape and regional scales are urgently needed to further deepen our understanding and support policy.

中文翻译：

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有机可可农林业对加纳小农可可农场土壤理化性质和作物产量的影响

可持续发展的成功可可树（可可）生产取决于土壤的物理和化学特性，但这些特性可能会受到农民采用的管理方法的影响。我们在两个深度（0-15 和 15-30 厘米）评估和比较了年轻、成熟和老有机和传统可可农林业系统的土壤理化特性，并评估了两种农场类型的可可豆荚、香蕉和车前草的产量. 与常规管理的可可农场相比，有机管理的可可农场的土壤有机碳、磷、锰和铜储量分别高出 20%、81%、88% 和 323%。与传统农场相比，有机系统的土壤水分含量、电导率和 pH 值更高。年可可豆荚产量每两种可可系统中的树相似（Org. 10.1 ± 1.1对比骗局。10.1 ± 0.6 豆荚每树）。有机农场的香蕉和车前草年产量较高（186.3 ± 34.70 kg ha-1年-1) 比传统系统 (31.6 ± 9.58 kg ha-1年-1）。我们得出的结论是，可可农林业系统的有机管理使土壤具有比传统管理更高的可可生产整体质量，并增加了副产品的产量。迫切需要研究有机管理对景观和区域尺度的可可农林业系统的影响，以进一步加深我们的理解和支持政策。