BEHAVIOR OF CADMIUM AND OTHER INDICATORS IN SOIL AND ALMONDS OF COCOA (Theobroma cacao L.), UNDER APPLICATION OF COMPOST AND NPK

Abstract

In the last decade, research warns of high levels of cadmium (Cd²⁺) in soils and almonds in certain areas of Peru. Also, the relationship that Cd²⁺ presents with some physical and chemical soil indicators. Therefore, the objective was to evaluate the effect of compost and NPK on the Cd²⁺ of the soil, almonds and the relationship with other soil indicators, in a cocoa plantation CCN-51 (Theobroma cacao L.) in the Padre Abad province, region Ucayali-Peru. The research used a completely randomized block design (DBCA) with four treatments and four repetitions, where T1: control treatment, T2: compost at a rate of 3,000 Kg.ha-1, T3: NPK at a dose of 84-35-161 , and T4 compost at a rate of 1500 kg.ha-1 + NPK 42-18-80; was evaluated Cd²⁺ available from the soil,  and in almonds, % clay, organic matter (MO), pH and Cation exchange capacity (CICe). The results show means between 18.5 to 22% of clay, 4.11 to 4.42 of pH, 2.32 to 4.41% of MO, 7.87 to 9.45 Cmol / kg of CICe, 0.17 to 0.23 μg. g^-1 of Cd²⁺ in the soil and 0.31 to 0.43 μg. g^-1 in almonds. A significant positive correlation was found between the treatments and the pH, MO and Cd²⁺ indicators in almonds and significant negative for CICe. It is concluded that the application of compost and NPK had a significant effect on the pH, MO, CICe and Cd²⁺ indicators in almonds; finding significant correlation between CICe, MO, and Cd²⁺ in almond, between Mg²⁺ and Cd²⁺ in soil and highly significant between CICe and Cd²⁺ in soil. Being, T2 (compost) the treatment with lower values of Cd²⁺ in soil and almonds.