Project Number: 1275-21220-007-11
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Jan 14, 2005
End Date: Nov 24, 2009

Objective:
The objectives of this cooperative research programs are: (1) To evaluate the chemical and biochemical Soil Quality parameters (SQP) of soil samples obtained from cacao field research sites in Bahia, Brazil; (2) To evaluate the chemical and biochemical SQP of soils under various alternate crops grown with different management practices in Tarapoto, Peru and 3) Chemical analysis of soils and cacao and cover crops subjected to abiotic stresses.

Approach:
1) Soil samples from field studies in Bahia, Brazil with agroforestry-based cacao planting will be obtained from 0-20 cm depth. Samples will be transported to the U.S. under APHIS soil import permit. Microbiological and biochemical SQP (microbial biomass- C, -N, -P; microbial quotient; basal respiration; metabolic quotient; mineralizable N; available P and pH) will be determined at the University of Florida, Indian River Research and Education Center (IRREC), Fort Pierce, Florida. 2) Soil samples will be collected from 0- 20 cm depth under various alternate fruit crops grown under different management system to determine microbiological and biochemical SQP (microbial biomass, C, N, P; microbial quotient; basal respiration; metabolic quotient; mineralizable N; available P and pH). These biochemical parameters will be determined at the University of Florida, IRREC, Fort Pierce, FL. 3) Cacao and cover crop plant samples will be collected from various experiments. Plants will be analyzed for C, N, macro, and micronutrients (Ca, K, P, Na, Al, Zn, Cu, B, Fe, Mn, etc). These chemical parameters will be determined at the University of Florida, IRREC, Fort Pierce, FL.