The aim of this study was to monitor the chemical properties of six substrates used in cacao propagation. The substrates received ten volumes (100mL each) of distilled water and the resultant leached were analyzed for pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and Na and K concentrations. The values of pH ranged from 5,0 to 8,0 in Plantmax® and composted cacao hulls (CTAC), respectively. It was confirmed that the CE of all substrates diminished after the first leaching volume. The results demonstrated that coconut fiber (FC) as well as CTAC should be used after an initial leaching pre-treatment. Yet while FC presented an initial EC greater than CTAC, the study showed that FC reaches the optimal value, 2.0 dSm-1, with fewer leaching volumes. Moreover, a positive correlation was found between EC concentrations of K and Na from FC (r=0.83 and 0.72; P<0.05) and CTAC ( r=0.98 and 0.99 ;P<0.05), suggesting that the concentration of K and Na are adequate indicators of EC of these substrates.
Theobroma cacao L; Pour Thru method; leaching of substrates
