Produção de amêndoas secas (kg/ha) em função da irrigação complementar nos diferentes estádios fenológicos da cultura do cacau (Theobroma cacao L.).

Abstract

The cocoa tree yield was evaluated in response to supplemental irrigation in different cocoa development stage. The 2.0 hPa soil water tension irrigation criteria was used in the experiment. In the treatment with no irrigation 25% of the cocoa trees died due to water deficit. Only in the treatment with irrigation during the year none of the cocoa tree died. When total rainfall was less then average regional value (1,185 mm), and the number of days with precipitation greater than 5.0 mm was less than 60 days, the supplemental irrigation was statistically reliable (Tukey; α = 5%), exception was made for the year of 1995, when there was no statistical difference among the treatments. However, the greatest yield was 1,983% superior to the smallest yield in that year. Moreover, it was observed that irrigation in some specific cocoa tree phenological stage is sufficient, in such a way that there is no need to irrigate during entire year.