Old cocoa plants that are old enough are sometimes difficult to produce, therefore they need to be rehabilitated. One way is through side grafting technique. Side grafting is an old plant repair technique without having to dismantle the plants. In principle, side grafting combine or connect the rootstock with the desired clone.
Economically side-grafting technique is quite profitable. Connection implementation does not have to wait too long to harvest on new plants.
in peluaan Connection should be done in the morning and the beginning of the rainy season, so that plants to be connected still in a state of fresh, and easily peeled off. Description of the implementation of side grafting is cultivated cocoa rod at an altitude of 40-60 cm from the soil surface.
After that the stem is slashed with a clean blade 1 cm wide with a length of 2-4 cm. The incision was opened carefully so as not to damage the cambium. Then the entres are carefully inserted into the incision hole, until the bottom of the incision.
The bark of the staple crop is closed again while being pressed with the thumb and tied. After that the plastic cover is installed. Continuous observation without removing the plastic cover entres 2-3 weeks after grafting, this is intended to determine whether the connection is made or not. If the condition is still fresh entres mean connection successfully. Dilakukkan opening plastic cover when long buds have reached 2 cm or less the age of one month since the implementation of the connection.
In this maintenance not only on the rod that is connected aside but covering all aspects namely pendangiran, pest and disease control, fertilization, pruning, and irrigation. Fertilization is done 2 times, ie a month before grafting and a month after grafting. After 3 months of side-grafting implementation the crown header should be trimmed. The rootstock can be cut completely if the top stem has grown strong and fruitful.
