Impact of copper-based fungicide application on copper contamination in cocoa soils and plants in the Ahafo Ano North District, Ashanti Region

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SEPTEMBER, 2012.
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Abstract
The control of the blackpod disease of cocoa is mainly by the application of copper-based fungicides. However, copper fungicides used might have negative impact on soil pH, available phosphorus and organic matter and may also persist in cocoa beans which can negatively impact on the health of consumers. A study was conducted in selected cocoa farms in the Ahafo-Ano North district of the Ashanti Region to evaluate the effect of copper contained in fungicides on the soil, cocoa beans and leaves. Soil analysis showed that the amount of both extractable and total copper in the soil did not vary significantly with increasing soil depth, but varied significantly (p<0.001) with the age of cocoa plantation. Soils of the various cocoa plantations were contaminated with regard to Contamination Factor and Geoaccumulation index distribution pattern of total copper in the soils and ranged from 0.93 and 4.08 and 0.62 to 2.72 respectively. Cocoa beans analysis revealed that, the beans were not contaminated with copper and showed no correlation with selected soil properties. This indicates that copper in the soil did not affect cocoa beans significantly. Copper content of leaves on the other hand showed positive correlation with organic matter. The amount of soil organic matter decreased with increasing soil depth from the top to the subsoil (p< 0.04). Whereas available phosphorous varied significantly (p = 0.002) with the age of farm, pH did not.
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A Thesis submitted to the School of Graduate Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Environmental Resource Management.
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