Nutrient Stocks, Nutrient Cycling, and Soil Changes in Cocoa Ecosystems: A Review

• Published in: Advances in Agronomy Vol. 86; pp. 227 - 253
• Main Author: Hartemink, Alfred E.
• Format: Book Chapter Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Science & Technology 01.01.2005; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Agricultural ecosystems; Agricultural science; Agrochemicals; cacao theobroma-cacao; Cash crops; Chemical properties; cocoa (beverage); costa-rica; Crop husbandry; Farming systems; land-use; laurel cordia-alliodora; Litter; Mineral fertilizers; modeling agroforestry systems; Nitrogen; nitrogen-cycle; Nutrient balance; Nutrient cycles; Nutrient loss; organic-matter; poro erythrina-poeppigiana; shade trees; Soil erosion; Soil fertility; soil nutrient balance; soil nutrient dynamics; soil nutrients; Soil properties; Soil science, sedimentology; Theobroma cacao; Topsoil; Tropical environments; tropical perennial crops; Vegetation

It is generally assumed that agricultural systems with perennial crops are more sustainable than systems with annual crops. Soil erosion is negligible and perennial crops have more closed nutrient cycling. Moreover, inorganic fertilizers are used more commonly in cash crops such as perennial crops s...