CASHEW

Cashew is an important nut grown and ranks first in the world. It is native to Brazil country. In India it was mainly grown for afforestation purpose. But afterwards it become major foreign exchange earner. In India near about 3.81 lakh acre land is under cashew cultivation with an annual production of 2.69 lakh tonnes of raw cashew. India is the third largest producer of cashews and is second largest consumer.

Along with soil conservation, it also has many health benefits such as it helps to prevent cancer, lowers high blood pressure, helps in digestion and helps in making gums and teeth healthy. Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Goa and Andhra Pradesh are the major cashew farming states. 

In India, Maharashtra state ranked first in term of Area and Production. In Maharashtra, near about 10.5 lakh hectare area is under cashew cultivation. With production of 8lakh metric ton of raw cashew.

It is grown in variety of soils ranging from red sandy loam, coastal sand and lateritic soil. It gives best result when grown in deep sandy loam soil having good drainage system and slightly acidic. Avoid cashew farming in heavy clay soil or excessive saline and alkaline soil. Do not plant on the soil having pH more than 8.0.

Vengurla 1: It gives an average yield of 19 kg/tree. The fruits have an average weight of approximately 6.2gm and nuts have an average weight of approximately 1.9gm.

Vengurla 2: It gives an average yield of 24 kg/tree. The fruits have an average weight of approximately 4.3gm and nuts have an average weight of approximately 1.4gm.

Vengurla 3: Hybrid, gives average yield of 15kg/tree. Its nuts are bold with shelling percentage of 27%. 

Vengurla 4: Hybrid, released in 1981. Cluster bearing type variety with shelling percentage of 31%. 

Vengurla 5: Hybrid, released in 1984. Gives average yield of 16.6kg/tree. Its shelling percentage is 30%. Variety produces small golden yellow colored apples. 

Vengurla 6: Hybrid, released in 1991. Gives average yield of 13.8kg/tree. It is popular among the farmer for cultivation. 

Vengurla 7: Hybrid having bold nut. It gives average yield of 19kg/tree. Variety having golden yellow colored apple. It is suitable for sowing in Konkan, Goa and Karnataka region.

Vengurla 8: Hybrid, released in 2001. It gives average yield of 15-20kg/tree. Color of apple is red with juice recovery 85%. 

Well prepared and leveled land is required for cashew farming. Land should be prepared prior to the onset of monsoon season. 

Time of sowing:

Complete sowing with onset of monsoon i.e. in month of June – July. 

Spacing:

Use spacing of 7mx7m or 8mx8m. In case of high density planting, use spacing of 4mx4m or 5mx5m. 

Sowing depth:

Sow seeds at depth of 1-2cm. Sow two seeds in one hole. After germination, remove weak seedling and keep healthy one.

Method of sowing:

Transplantation of graft in main field.

Seed rate:

When spacing of 7mx7m is adopted, 80plants are accommodated in one acre. Whereas for spacing of 8mx8m, 62 plants are accommodated in one acre. In case of high density planting with spacing of 4mx4m, near about 250plants are accommodated per acre.   

Seed treatment:

Before sowing seeds are sown in water for 18-24 hours to increase germination percentage.

Cashew can be propagated by two ways 1) By seed method and 2) By vegetative method.

Seed Propagation: Seeds take 15 to 20days for germination. For sowing purpose collect seeds in March – May month. 

Vegetative Method: Air layering, Veneer grafting, Patch budding methods are used for propagation. But these are less practices because of low success rate and also long nursery periods. Now a days, Soft wood grafting and epicotyl grafting are used on commercial scale. 

 Nutrient Requirement (gm/tree)

Fertilizer Requirement (gm/tree)

Generally fertilizers are not applied to cashew plant but research finding shows that, cashew responds well to fertilizer application. Apply fertilizers in month of August. Insert fertilizers 10-15cm deep in pit and 100-150cm away from tree trunk.

Regular irrigation is needed during initial development of crop. Avoid water stress during nut development. Water stress result in small size of nut and also affects on yield. Flower and fruit development is also important stage for irrigation.  

According to the growth intensity of weed, weeding is done through hands or chemical ways in June-July and September-October month. Application of Paraquat@160gm/acre is done in start of July and then at the intervals of 2 months or Glyphosate@350gm/acre in the month of June-July.

• Pests and their control:

Bugs: It is one of the major pests found in cashew. It sucks the juice of the soft plants which will lead to small leaves and dried flowering part.

Treatment: Spraying of Carbaryl@800gm or Quinalphos@400ml should be done in the month of October-November (during shoot development) and then in December-January (during flower bud development) and then in January-February (during fruits development).

Stem and root borer: The pest laid eggs on loose bark of the plant. The infected leaves turn yellow and branches get dried.

Treatment: Spraying of carbaryl@800gm should be done to get rid of bugs.

Leaf miner: It harms the soft branches of the plant after monsoon. It makes blister on the peel which ultimately dries and there holes are formed.

Treatment: Spraying of Carbaryl@800gm or Quinalphos@400ml should be done to get rid of leaf miner.

Leaf and flower webber: It makes the trap of the leaf and flower and then by living in the trap it eats the plant.

Treatment: Spraying of Carbaryl@800gm or Quinalphos@400ml should be done to get rid of leaf and flower webber.

• Disease and their control:

Pink disease: After its infection, white color spots are seen on the branches. The branches start drying from top.

Treatment: Spraying of Bordo mixture @1% is done in the month of May-June and October month.

Harvesting is started after 3 years of planting and in 10th year tree attain its full yield. It gives continuously yield after next 20 years. Fruits are hand plucked and separated from the peel and then they are sun dried for 2-3 days. After drying they are stored. It gives an average yield of 3kg per tree per year.