Water and nitrogen levels in cocoa cultivation in semi-arid Bahia

The appearance of the witches' broom in 1989 in the municipality of Uruçuca right in the center of the cocoa region in the south of Bahia caused damage and discouragement among producers and caused production to fall from 400000 tons in 1990 to 174000 tons in 2003. Research into irrigated cocoa in the semi-arid region is beginning to develop but it is still small in number and its results still need more detailed scientific evidence especially with regard to the crop's field parameters such as the most efficient water level and the most satisfactory nutrient dose which will directly influence the cocoa tree's productivity as well as other technical aspects that need to be diagnosed.