Toward sustainability in soil fertility management in cocoa production in Côte d’ivoire

Although Côte d’Ivoire is the first producer in cocoa, its cocoa production is made by extension while yield are still low because of soil fertility decrease, diseases and pests and planting material quality. If this can be solved by improved varieties creation, soil fertility and it management need to be treat seriously to face climate changes effects. Chemical fertilization has been tested unsuccessfully and raised others problem due to acidification and product quality. Ivoirian cocoa producers being costumed to produce without fertilizer, we aim in this test to experiment, DAF system to improve soil fertility and cocoa productivity in central Côte d’Ivoire. In an on farm trial made with 54 farmers using different cocoa varieties, no significant difference was noticed between one year DAF application and control yields even if DAF yields better. However, old plantations showed an improvement in soil organic matter content compare to their controls of same farmer. The plantation age and DAF application are the principal factors that condition the success of the system. All species associated to cocoa are useful to local people and this can made possible the rapid adoption of that innovative strategy in cocoa production and lead to better cocoa dry broad bean.