Integrated agronomic practices to improve cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) productivity: A systematic review

Cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) cultivation is strategic for sustainable rural development in the tropics; however, yields remain low due to inadequate agronomic practices. This systematic review aims to identify agronomic management practices that increase cocoa crop yield by conducting a systematic search of Scopus following the PRISMA methodology. A total of 134 original scientific articles were selected from 2015 to 2025. Their data were analyzed using bibliometric tools such as R-Bibliometrix and VOSviewer, enabling identification of trends, key authors, and the frequency of agronomic practices. Approximately 12 key agronomic practices were identified, with the most relevant and widely studied being soil amendment, fertilization, agroforestry systems, pruning, irrigation systems, and phytosanitary control, implemented throughout the production cycle, from the nursery stage to the crop production phase. Limitations were identified, including the lack of longterm trials and the limited availability of specific data for local edaphoclimatic conditions, highlighting the need to strengthen applied research. This review demonstrates that when agronomic practices are employed in an integrated manner, they are essential for enhancing sustainability and productivity by more than 40%. Several challenges are addressed in implementing adequate agronomic practices for the cocoa crop in Colombia.