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Plant community composition and functional characteristics define invasion and infestation of termites in cocoa agroforestry systems

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Abstract

The effects of farm management on non-native species and the structure and function of native communities and ecosystems on crop yield is poorly documented especially in the cocoa agroforestry systems of West Africa. We assessed termite damages, cocoa plantations structural characteristic and local farmer knowledge to refine the critical role of shade trees management on subterranean crops pests and the consequences on marketable yield in five cocoa agroforestry systems. Farmers recognized termites as the most damaging subterranean pests and clearly described the type of damages they cause on cocoa trees and seedlings. Complete shade removal or very heavy shade on very old cocoa trees were responsible of the invasion of termites with negative effect on marketable yield. Some tree species, specifically fruit tree species planted in high proportion or solely may act as termite attractants and reservoirs by facilitating the building of galleries on cocoa trees. Many plant parts from roots to pods are preferred by termites with higher incidence on stems (52%), roots (34%) and young branches (27%). Damages on plant parts varied significantly with shade management. We found that the relationship between yield and the infestation of termites was weak in unshaded systems and very strong under shaded systems. We also found that the sales of agroforestry products significantly contribute to offset yield loss due to termite infestations. We conclude that intermediate shaded cocoa agroforestry systems with a diversity of shade trees will limit the outbreaks of termites. The intermediate shaded systems provide agroforestry products that offset marketable yield loss due to termites with positive impacts on income and the sustainability of cocoa production.

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Acknowledgements

This study is part of the fellowship project (VW-60420894) of BDHB funded by the Volkswagen Foundation. We thank the Volkswagen foundation for the financial assistance provided to the first author for field work and for various analyses. We are particularly grateful to the staff of the Institut de Recherche Agricole pour le Development (IRAD) for their support and hospitality. We are also grateful to Mr Essono of the Department of Plant Biology and Physiology of the University of Yaoundé for his support in plant identification. We also thank the Cameroonian cocoa farmers who made their plantations available to us and for their help and support during field work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Zoology, Faculty of Science, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon

    T. C. L. Djuideu, S. Kekeunou, M. J. Meupia & F. G. Difouo

  2. World Cocoa Foundation, 4 Blackberries Street, East Legon, PMB 217, Accra, Ghana

    D. H. B. Bisseleua

  3. International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology, Nairobi, Kenya

    C. F. Ambele

  4. Food Security and Safety, Faculty of Agriculture, Science and Technology, North-West University, Mmabatho, South Africa

    C. F. Ambele

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  1. T. C. L. Djuideu
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  2. D. H. B. Bisseleua
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  3. S. Kekeunou
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  5. F. G. Difouo
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  6. C. F. Ambele
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Correspondence to D. H. B. Bisseleua.

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Djuideu, T.C.L., Bisseleua, D.H.B., Kekeunou, S. et al. Plant community composition and functional characteristics define invasion and infestation of termites in cocoa agroforestry systems. Agroforest Syst 94, 185–201 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10457-019-00380-w

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