The comparison of cocoa growth in different vegetation compositions

In general, the composition of cacao cropping in Indonesia is monoculture and polyculture. The different vegetation of shade trees in cacao cropping caused differences in the growth and productivity. This study was aimed to analyze the Leaf Mass Area (LMA), stem diameter, and the number of cocoa shade science leaves during rainy and dry seasons. This study was conducted more than 10 months to cocoa cropping's with many types of shade trees (polyculture), single shade tree (monoculture) and without shade tree. The result showed that the difference of vegetation composition of shade plants affected cocoa growth and productivity. Leaf mass area (LMA), ratio green and senescent leaves, flower and pods of cocoa on polyculture especially in cocoa with many types of trees were lower than polyculture patterns. Surprisingly, the polyculture cropping pattern with cocoa planting with many types of trees has almost no leaves of senescence in the early dry season. It shows a better adaptation to drought when planted with other tree species.