Seedling growth of Theeobroma cacao L. c.v. Criollo as affected by the different levels of soil moisture

Month old Theobroma cacao seedlings were subjected to varying soil moisture stress employed by different watering schedules for two months. The watering schedules were carried out by everyday, every other day, thrice a week, twice a week and once a week watering having the percentage moisture of 41.5, 34.75, 30.24, 26.79 and 17.62 respectively.Statistical analysis showed that all of the morphological parameters were significantly affected at 5 and 1 level of significance at F-test. Plant height increment, number of leaves, single leaf area for young and matured leaves were highest on plants watered everyday and lowest on plants watered once a week.Chemical composition such as sugar (), starch () and protein () were also significantly affected by the different soil moisture both at 5 and 1 level of significance at F-test. Starch concentration was highest on plants watered everyday and lowest on plants watered once a week. Sugar and protein were both highest on plants watered every other day and lowest on plants watered once a week