| Introduction: |
|
The Cashewnut (Anacardium occidentale L.) is one of the important nut trees grown
in the tropical world. It is the native of Brazil. It is grown mostly on west coast area
of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.The dry nuts – kernels are of
high nutritive value and also rich in protein, carbohydrates, minerals like calcium,
phosphorus and iron. |
| Requirement |
|
The Cashew requires a
minimum rainfall of 60 cm per annum, but can stand extremes of rainfall from 20 cm to 400
cm. If there is sufficient water supply, it can withstand a long period of dry spell and
low humidity. The Cashew is a sun loving tree and does not tolerate excessive shade, also
it does not favour very high temperatures above 45o C during the fruit set and
development. Heavy rains and cloudy weather during flowering adversely affect the yield.
It is considered a
crop of marginal land and is recommended for slopy and light soils. The best soils for
better production are deep, friable, well drained and without a hard pan upto 2/3 m in
depth. The Cashew is mainly grown on Laterite, red and coastal sands in India. |
Varieties |
|
The
following are the important varieties of Cashew grown in different parts of the country.
Vengurla 1
Vengurla 2
Vengurla 3
Vengurla 4
Vengurla 5
Vengurla 6
Bhubneshwar
Kanaka
Dhana
Selection. |
| Propagation |
|
The cashew is grown by
the following methods: |
|
It is the oldest and
cheapest method of propagation. It is also used to raise the plants for the purpose of
grafting. |
|
This method is more
successful in coastal and more humid are as |
|
This is followed both
in the nursery as well as in the field of in-situ. For this purpose, veener grafting is
done. |
| Season and Planting |
|
7.0x7.0 or 7.5x7.5 or
8.0x8.0 m on plain land or on desirable contours on slopy lands. |
|
the pits of 60x60x60
cm are dug and filled with a compost, top soil, single super phosphate and karnaj cake.
This is to be well before the monsoon starts. Planting should be done during June-July
i.e. in the beginning of monsoon. |
|
Removal of weeds is
done once twice
Intercrops are planted
in interspace |
| Care of young plants |
|
- Gap filling for the missing plants
- Removal of outgrowth on stocks in case
of grafted plants
- Staking with bamboos.
- Cover cropping
- Providing protective irrigation during
first few summers.
|
| Special horticulture practices |
|
- Pruning of dead and dried shoots
alongwith criscross branches and water shoots
- Pruning of leader shoots in June
followed by 2% KNO3 spray
- Spraying with 10 ppm NAA twice during
flowering for increasing fruit set and minimising flower and fruit drop.
|
| Irrigation |
|
The cashew is mostly
grown as the rainfed crop and requires no irrigation in the high rainfall areas. However,
if the rainfall is low, the cashew responses well to irrigation water at the time of fruit
set upto full development stage of nuts. Irrigation should not be given before or at the
time of flowering, as it is likely to promote vegetative growth. |
| Nutrition |
|
The
cashew trees should be manured and fertilized with biofertilizers like biomeal and
chemical fertilizers. Fertilizer should be given by ring method with 25cm wide and 15cm
deep and cover with the soil.
Year after planting |
FYM (Kg) |
Chemical fertilizer (gram/plant/year) |
Nitrogen
(N) |
Phosphorus (P2O5) |
Potassh (K2O) |
1st |
5 |
250 |
63 |
63 |
2nd |
10 |
500 |
125 |
125 |
3rd |
15 |
750 |
188 |
188 |
4th
and above |
20 |
1000 |
250 |
250 |
|
| Harvesting |
|
Fallen cashewnut bolls
should be collected and seeds are separated. Separated seeds should be dried in sun for
2-3 days and stored at clean and dry place. |
