Gliricidia Gliricidia is easy to establish and is a fast growing shade tree. It is also a legume, returning nitrogen to the soil, will attract crazy ants which help control cocoa pests and is a good source of firewood. Gliricidia can be hard to manage if the trees get too big leading to overshading of cocoa trees. Plant gliricidia 6- 9 months before cocoa seedlings. Planting sticks should be 1.5 metres long and sharpened at one end. Use a crowbar or hardwood stick to dig a planting hole that is slightly bigger than the girth of the gliricidia stick, and 200 mm or more deep.
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3.5 metres
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Lining and marking out at 3.5 metres using gliricidia sticks
Betel nut Betel nut is a good crop shade for cocoa. They should be planted between every second cocoa tree. This is about 400 betel nut trees per hectare, which should allow enough sunlight through for the cocoa to produce well. Unlike coconut, betel nut palms can force their way through an established cocoa canopy. Betel nut provides a good second income source.
SOLOMON ISLANDS COCOA BOOK
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