Cocoa (Theobroma cacao) farmers in Sulawesi, Indonesia typically use subsidised, ammonium-based rice fertilisers that in combination with poor agricultural practices have resulted in soil acidification, loss of organic matter, aluminium toxicity and lower soil fertility. As a result, these soils are only marginally appropriate for replanting cocoa to boost production. A field experiment was performed to test alternative soil amendments for successful replanting of cocoa on these deficient soils. In a trial with a randomised block design, 6-month old seedlings, top-grafted with the local MCC02 clone, were planted under light Gliricidia sepium shade and after 3 months treated quarterly with two options of mineral fertilisers: either a customised fertiliser, consisting of Nitrabor (a combination of calcium nitrate and boron), dolomite, rock phosphate and KCl or a NPK/urea mix used by farmers, each supplied with or without ‘micronutrient’ rock salt, organic fertiliser and beneficial microorganisms or their culture medium, a mixture of chitin and amino acids (a total of 20 treatments). Over a 4-year period, the marginal mean rates of stem diameter increment and flowering score were higher in customised fertiliser than NPK/urea treatments. The average growth rate was highest in the first year and was increased by supplying organic fertiliser. A significant correlation (r = 0.22, p < 0.05) occurred between growth and available P, but concentrations of available P were higher in the NPK/urea plots, which also had lower mean growth rates. Combined supply of organic fertiliser and microbes increased available P, as well as growth rates, in both the customised and NPK/urea treatments. In contrast, NPK/urea-treated plots without these amendments demonstrated very low growth rates. The customised formulation was more effective with or without added organic fertiliser or inoculated microbes. Micronutrient supply stimulated flowering. Growth rates in trees supplied with NPK/urea were also promoted by micronutrients. Leaf flush production occurred in regular cycles and was unaffected by the nutrient amendments. After 3 years, the customised and organic fertiliser application increased soil pH and exchangeable Ca and Mg concentrations, although they remained below recommended levels for cocoa production. These treatments had little impact on soil C content (about 1.3%) which was also deficient. Exchangeable Al and total Zn concentrations were higher in soils amended with NPK/urea. The results of the trial provide evidence that utilisation of organic fertiliser in combination with customised nitrate-based formulations improves cocoa establishment, growth and soil properties and should be recommended as a replacement for the NPK/urea fertilisers traditionally used by farmers.

印度尼西亚苏拉威西岛上的可可（可可可）农民通常使用补贴的铵基稻米肥料，再加上不良的农业实践，导致土壤酸化，有机质损失，铝毒害和土壤肥力降低。结果，这些土壤仅勉强适合种植可可以增加产量。进行了田间试验，以测试替代性土壤改良剂，以在这些不足的土壤上成功种植可可。在一项采用随机区组设计的试验中，将6个月大的幼苗顶部移植了本地MCC02克隆，并在轻度的菊苣下种植阴凉处，并在三个月后每季度用两种矿物肥料进行处理：要么是定制肥料，由Nitrabor（硝酸钙和硼的混合物），白云石，磷矿和KCl组成，要么由农民使用，分别提供了NPK /尿素混合物含或不含“微量营养素”岩盐，有机肥料和有益微生物或其培养基，几丁质和氨基酸的混合物（共20种处理）。在4年的时间里，定制肥料比NPK /尿素处理的茎直径增加和开花分数的边际平均率更高。第一年的平均增长率最高，并且通过供应有机肥料而增加。显着相关（r = 0.22，p<0.05）发生在生长和有效磷之间，但是在氮磷钾/尿素图中，有效磷的浓度较高，平均增长率也较低。在定制和NPK /尿素处理中，有机肥和微生物的联合供应增加了有效磷以及增长率。相反，未经这些修改的NPK /尿素处理地块显示出非常低的增长率。定制的配方在添加或不添加有机肥料或接种微生物的情况下更为有效。微量营养素供应刺激开花。微量营养素也促进了NPK /脲供应的树木的生长速度。叶片潮红产生以规则的周期发生，并且不受养分改良的影响。3年后 定制和有机肥料的施用增加了土壤的pH值和可交换的Ca和Mg浓度，尽管它们仍低于建议的可可生产水平。这些处理对土壤碳含量几乎没有影响（约1.3％），这也是不足的。在用NPK /尿素改良的土壤中，可交换的Al和总Zn浓度较高。该试验的结果提供了证据，证明有机肥料与定制的基于硝酸盐的配方结合使用可改善可可的建立，生长和土壤特性，因此应建议替代农民传统上使用的NPK /尿素肥料。在用NPK /尿素改良的土壤中，可交换的Al和总Zn浓度较高。该试验的结果提供了证据，证明有机肥料与定制的基于硝酸盐的配方结合使用可改善可可的建立，生长和土壤特性，因此应建议替代农民传统上使用的NPK /尿素肥料。在用NPK /尿素改良的土壤中，可交换的Al和总Zn浓度较高。该试验的结果提供了证据，证明有机肥料与定制的基于硝酸盐的配方结合使用可改善可可的建立，生长和土壤特性，因此应建议替代农民传统上使用的NPK /尿素肥料。