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Enhancing Soil Microclimate and Cacao Productivity with Organic Biomass and Superior Clones in Hedgerow Systems for Climate Resilience
 
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1
Departmen of Agriculture Science, Hasanuddin University, Jalan Perintis Kemerdekaan KM. 10, Makassar, Indonesia. Departmen of Forestry, Universitas Indonesia Timur, Jalan Rappocini Raya Nomor 171-173, Makassar, Indonesia
 
2
Departmen of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Hasanuddin University, Jalan Perintis Kemerdekaan KM. 10, Makassar, Indonesia
 
3
Departmen of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Hasanuddin University, Jalan Perintis Kemerdekaan KM. 10, Makassar 90245, Indonesia
 
4
Departmen of Agriculture Science, Hasanuddin University, Jalan Perintis Kemerdekaan KM. 10, Makassar, Indonesia
 
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Departmen of Life Environment Conservation Science, Ehime University, Darumacho 3-5-7 Tarumi, Japan
 
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Departmen of Chemistry, Hasanuddin University, Jalan Perintis Kemerdekaan KM. 10, Makassar, 90245, Indonesia
 
 
Corresponding author
Risma Neswati   

Departmen of Soil Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Hasanuddin University, Jalan Perintis Kemerdekaan KM. 10, Makassar, Indonesia
 
 
J. Ecol. Eng. 2025; 26(8)
 
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ABSTRACT
Climate change threatens soil quality and cacao productivity in the tropics. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of integrating organic biomass application with superior cacao clones in a hedgerow system to enhance soil microclimate resilience, fertility, and plant growth under climate stress in South Sulawesi. A split-plot experimental design was employed, featuring MCC 02 and SULAWESI 2 clones as primary factors, along with four biomass treatments (no biomass, coconut leaves, banana leaves, and litter) subplots. Measurements include soil microclimate, plant growth, and soil fertility indicators. Results indicated that the MCC 02 clone exhibited superior climate adaptation, showing a lower soil temperature (31.85°C) and higher soil moisture levels, particularly in the morning (35.22%) and afternoon (33.11%). The banana leaf biomass treatment (B2) significantly reduced afternoon soil temperature by 1.44°C, improved relative humidity, and reduced heat stress. Additionally, the MCC 02 clone achieved the highest hedgerow shade percentage in the morning (57.44%), which supported optimal photosynthesis. Growth analysis showed that MCC 02 had superior plant height (156.32 cm) and canopy width (157.53 cm) compared to the SULAWESI 2 clone. Combining the MCC 02 clone with the B2 biomass treatment enhanced soil fertility, nitrogen content (0.19%), and cation exchange capacity (20.7 cmol kg-1). These results demonstrate that integrating the MCC 02 cacao clone with banana leaf biomass in a hedgerow system provides an effective and sustainable approach to improving soil resilience and supporting cacao productivity under climate stress conditions.
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