Sun light intensity identification in cocoa plant on variation of shading plant type in soppeng regency

Cocoa plant (Theobroma cacao L.) is a mainstay plant of South Sulawesi. This study aimed to identify the intensity of sunlight in various types of shading plants and pruning plants against cocoa plant. This research was conducted in the Lilirilau sub-district of Soppeng Regency, South Sulawesi Province from January to March 2018. The results of the study showed that the intensity of sunlight on the three types of shading plants measured above the plant canopy was higher, namely (4864.3 Lux) then it was followed by one type of shading plants (4468.8 Lux) and two types of shading plants, namely (4073.1 Lux). Next, it was measured under the plant canopy, where the variations of three types of shading plants were higher (1644.0 Lux), which was followed by variations of two types of shading plants (1173.0 Lux), and one type of shading plants (1139.0 Lux). For air temperature and soil temperature, variations in one shading plant were higher, namely 34.8; 33.3°C, then variations in two types of shading plants were 31.4; 31.2°C, and variations in three types of shading plants were 31.3; 30.6°C while for air humidity (RH) variations of two types of shading plants were higher (68.5%), followed by variations in three types of shading plants (68.0%) and one type of shading plants (60.7%). For maintenance pruning and production pruning, it were respectively (44% and 88%). In other words, in average, respondent farmers did not carry out pruning. Based on the results of statistical analysis, it was found that the intensity of sunlight was different in different types of shading plants.