Integration of Cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.) Clone MCC 01 into Smallholder Oil Palm Plantations as a Regenerative Agriculture Strategy: Early Growth under 11-Year-Old Oil Palm Stands

¹ Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Tanjungpura, Pontianak 78124, Indonesia
² WWF Indonesia, Arabela Landscape Program, Melawi, Sintang, West Kalimantan, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

Smallholder oil palm plantations managed under intensive monoculture systems are highly susceptible to long-term declines in soil quality and ecological function due to continuous reliance on inorganic inputs and limited organic matter return. Regenerative Agriculture (RegAgri) has emerged as a promising approach to restoring soil functions through crop diversification and reduced dependence on synthetic fertilizers. One practical strategy is the integration of cocoa as an understory crop within mature oil palm plantations. This study aimed to evaluate the early growth performance of cocoa clone MCC 01 planted on Ultisol soils in the inter-row spaces of 11-year-old mature oil palm stands (TM 11) as part of the RegAgri demonstration plot established by KOPSI Rimba Harapan, Sintang Regency, West Kalimantan, Indonesia. A randomized complete block design with four fertilization treatments was applied: R0 (100% inorganic), R1 (75% organic + 25% inorganic), R2 (50% organic + 50% inorganic), and R3 (25% organic + 75% inorganic). The seedling survival rate at 3 MAP ranged from 92% to 100%, with R1, R2, and R3 achieving complete establishment. Stem diameter differed significantly among treatments (p<0.05), with the highest value observed in R1 (6.13 cm), while plant height showed no significant differences. Agroclimatic conditions under the oil palm canopy, characterized by light intensity of 933–2,017 lux, temperature of 28.15–28.42 °C, and relative humidity of 70.65–72.10%, were suitable for early cocoa growth under shaded environments. These findings demonstrate that oil palm cocoa integration using a mixed row planting system represents a practical entry point for implementing RegAgri practices and supporting the transition from monoculture toward diversified and more resilient smallholder plantation systems in West Kalimantan.