RELACIONES VOLUMÉTRICAS DEL SUELO Y DESARROLLO DEL SISTEMA DE RAÍCES DE PLÁNTULAS DE CACAO (Theobroma cacao L.) BAJO CONDICIONES CONTROLADAS

This study was conducted at the Faculty of Livestock and Biological Sciences of the Technical State University of Quevedo, located on the La María University Campus. The main purpose of this research was to evaluate the influence of soil volumetric relationships on the development of cocoa seedling root systems. To carry out this analysis, four treatments were implemented, identified as T1 (700g/dL), T2 (900g/dL), T3 (1100g/dL), and T4 (1300g/dL). These treatments were assigned using a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. The evaluated variables included plant height (in centimeters), stem diameter (in millimeters), number of leaves, root volume and length, porosity and void ratio, as well as fresh and dry biomass. Regarding seedling height, stem diameter, number of leaves, root volume, and main root length, no statistical differences were observed among the different treatments. However, significant differences were identified in plant biomass, particularly in the leaves, based on variations in soil volumetric relationships. These results highlight the importance of soil porosity and void ratio in the growth of cocoa seedlings.