Environmental and socioeconomic importance of mycorrhizae in cocoa crop case: Cata farm, Ocumare of the Gold Coast, Aragua State, Venezuela

Abstract

In the north coastal region of Cata, Ocumare of the Gold Coast in Aragua state, Venezuela, a case study was conducted in the Cata Farm, between coordinates 10 º 30'00''N, 67° 45' 00''67 º 37 '00''W. L. The purpose was: a) to study the environmental and socio-economic importance of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi ( AMF) cocoa plantations, (Theobroma cacao L., b) to know the natural status of mycorrhizae in cocoa plants; c) to promote, between farmers, the knowledge, application, protection, conservation and use of these fungi in cocoa plantations. For the socioeconomic study, a universe of 32 farmers qualitative research techniques. The presence of AMF, was evaluated in soil samples collected at the rhizosphere level in three cocoa lots. With regard to the socio-economic aspect, the results indicate that 68.76% of the farmers recognized the cocoa as the most important economic activity in a direct way; and about the benefits of mycorrhiza in the cocoa agrosystem, 56 . 2 5% of them identified the contribution of phosphorus and 43,75% believe that this symbiosis increase production and can reduce problems that affect the crop. In relation to the natural status of mycorrhizae, all samples showed mycorrhized roots; however, % of mycorrhized root length varied between 2.8 and 13.3 %, these values can be considered low in relation to other cocoa agroecosystems