Status Of Soil Chemical Properties in Cocoa (Theobroma cacao) Plantation Land in Lanona Village, Bungku Tengah District, Morowali Regency, Central Sulawesi

Nadine Sandra Agustina; Epriani Rimbun; Iskandar; Hasnia

doi:10.63922/ijeter.v4i03.5114

Nadine Sandra Agustina Department of Agrotechnology/Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tadulako University, Palu, Indonesia
Epriani Rimbun Department of Agrotechnology/Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tadulako University, Palu, Indonesia
Iskandar Department of Agrotechnology/Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tadulako University, Palu, Indonesia
Hasnia Student of Agrotechnology Study Program, Faculty of Agriculture, Tadulako University, Palu, Indonesia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.63922/ijeter.v4i03.5114

Keywords: Keywords: cocoa; soil chemical properties; slope position; soil fertility; Morowali

Abstract

Cocoa (Theobroma cacao) is a major plantation commodity in Lanona Village, Bungku Tengah District, Morowali Regency, yet its productivity remains low, partly because the chemical fertility status of the local soils has not been documented. This study aimed to determine the status of soil chemical properties (pH, organic carbon, total N, and total P) in cocoa plantation land in Lanona Village according to slope position and soil depth. A soil survey was carried out at three slope positions (footslope, midslope, and summit) and two depths (0–20 cm and 20–40 cm), with three replicates for each combination, yielding 18 soil samples. Soil pH ranged from acidic to neutral (5.22–7.15), with the highest values at the midslope and the lowest at the summit. Organic carbon content was moderate to high (2.26–4.60%), highest at the midslope and decreasing with depth. Total N was low to moderate (0.11–0.28%), whereas total P varied widely (2.78–25.02 ppm), with a very high status found only at the midslope. Slope position, together with base leaching and organic matter accumulation, was the main factor controlling the observed variation in soil chemical properties. The midslope showed the chemical fertility status most favourable for cocoa cultivation, whereas the footslope and summit required improvement, particularly through dolomitic liming, organic matter addition, and more targeted N and P fertilisation.

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