Effects of coppicing on yield of cocoa pods in cocoa research institute of Nigeria (crin) demonstration plot

Poor condition of cocoa plantations, dominance of old and moribund cocoa trees on farmers’ farms are the major causes of low cocoa output in Nigeria. Institutional efforts such as cocoa coppicing, distribution of improved cocoa varieties among others have proven to be the best methods of improving yield of cocoa. Various techniques of cocoa rehabilitation were perfected and demonstrated on-station but studies on the yield of most of these techniques have not been determined. The study provided a comprehensive picture of the yield derivable from some selected coppiced cocoa trees during the main and light seasons of cocoa production in CRIN demonstration plot. Coppicing was done in the month of November, 10 coppiced cocoa trees out of 40 coppiced trees were randomly selected while 10 un-coppiced cocoa were used as control for this experiment. Data were collected over the periods of five years. Results showed that coppicing was a good technique of cocoa rehabilitation as there was reduction over time in the weeding regime of the plot. This led to increased yield of cocoa pods. Coppiced cocoa trees had appreciable increased yield records in the fifth year as the mean yield increased to 78.4. The reduction in the mean yield of un-coppiced trees from 11.2 pods in the 3rd year to 7.8 pods in the 5th year implies a decline. The study revealed that coppiced cocoa trees in the first three years of production produced during the light season than in the main season. It is recommended that training on the application of different rehabilitation techniques should be demonstrated through participatory approach both on-station and on-farm.