Effect of Biological Amendment on the Agro-Morphology of Cocoa Companion Species (Irvingia gabonensis, Garcinia kola, Tieghemella heckelii, and Beilschmiedia mannii) at the Nursery Stage

The study specifically focused on the effect of organic amendments on the morphophysiological parameters of four companion tree species of cocoa during their juvenile stage. The species involved were Irvingia gabonensis (Kplé), Garcinia kola (Petit Cola), Tieghemella heckelii (Makoré), and Beilschmiedia mannii (Bitéi). Four different treatments were applied: T0, which consisted of soil from the top 10 cm of an old cocoa plantation; T1, a mixture of two-thirds T0 soil and one-third rice husk biochar; T2, T0 soil enriched with 0.5 kg of composted poultry manure; and T3, a combination of T1 and T2. This dataset provides a detailed overview of tree growth, leaf physiology, and biomass accumulation for these species across various treatments. By tracking these variables, the dataset enhances our understanding of how different environmental and experimental factors influence tree health, growth, and resource allocation. This data is crucial for advancing tree physiology knowledge and improving sustainable tree management practices. Each record in the dataset is linked to a specific experimental setup via a block identifier and treatment number. These identifiers connect observations to particular conditions or factors applied to the trees, helping assess how each treatment affects tree growth and health. The dataset includes both the scientific and common names of the species studied, such as Irvingia gabonensis (Kplé), Garcinia kola (Petit Cola), Tieghemella heckelii (Makoré), and Beilschmiedia mannii (Bitéi), which aids in the analysis of physiological characteristics across the species. For each tree, the dataset records various growth parameters, including height and diameter, which provide an indication of the trees' overall growth and size under different conditions. The total number of leaves is also recorded, offering insights into leaf production and plant health. Specific measurements of both young and old leaves are also tracked, allowing for the observation of leaf growth dynamics and changes over time. Physiological data, such as chlorophyll content, is collected at three time points (18/12/2020, 11/02/2021, and 14/03/2021), offering important information about the trees' photosynthetic abilities and leaf health. Biomass measurements, recorded on 27/05/2021 and 31/05/2021, provide data on root and aboveground biomass, helping to understand how trees allocate resources between root and shoot growth and overall development. Spanning several months from tree assessments in December 2020 to biomass measurements in May and June 2021, the dataset enables researchers to track tree development over time. This allows for the assessment of how growth metrics evolve in response to different experimental treatments and environmental conditions.