Organic and Conventional Management Practices That Improve Soil Quality and the Yield of Theobroma cacao in the Upper Huallaga Valley (Peru)

Cocoa accounts for 5.20% of Peru’s cultivated land and is growing at a rate of 8.80% per year; however, yields remain low due to deficiencies in crop management. Therefore, this study used a multiple linear regression (MLR) model to evaluate effects of an organic agroforestry system (OAF) and conventional monocultures (CMs) on soil and production in high-yielding T. cacao plantations in the Upper Huallaga Valley, Peru. Four plantations were evaluated: organic agroforestry (Pa) and conventional monoculture (LE, Sa, and Sh). Soil physicochemical variables and cocoa production were assessed. The MLR analysis revealed that in OAF systems with mature trees, there will be slight losses of clay and silt fractions; the latter can be offset by high planting density. The OAF system showed a significant positive effect on pH. However, the CM system showed significant decreases in pH, CEC, Ca2+, and Mg2+. The interaction between OAF and CM optimized production, increasing the weight of dry beans. Planting density is associated with improvements in pH and bases, as well as fruit index and the weight of dry beans. MLR modeling suggests that integrating OAF systems with conventional management practices in high-density plantations offers valuable alternatives for the design of local agricultural policies and producer support programs, by identifying the factors that link management systems to soil quality and sustainable cocoa productivity in this valley.