Enhancement of Production Through High-tech Cashew Cultivation · High-tech Cashew Cultivation...
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Enhancement of Production Through High-tech Cashew Cultivation Cashew occupies the status of an important commercial plantation crop in our country. In order to keep pace in the international market, India has to achieve increased nut production of at least 25.0 lakh ton by the year 2030 at copetive price which is challenging and is possible by the use of new technologies developed. With reduced availability of area for Horticulture/Agriculture due to urbanization, industrialization, it has now become imperative to obtain maximum yield per unit area. The main reasons associated with low productivity are non uniform seedling progenies, cultivation under degraded sites, improper management of soil, water and canopy management, senile orchards, low density planting, severe infestation of cashew stem and root borer(CSRB) and tea mosquito bug (TMB). To overcome, these problems, the use of advanced scientific technologies are very much required. Improved Varieties/Hybrids The new varieties have an important role in increasing the production and productivity. The performance of varieties vary from region to region, therefore for getting more yield potentials, the varieties should be selected based on its suitability to the region. The important varieties like BPP-8, Dhana,Vengurla-4, Jaganath, Balabhadra, NRCC Selection-2, H- 320, H-68 ,Vengurla-9 and H-130 are to be promoted Majority of old orchards are developed from seedling progenies of nondescript origin,which is one of the major factors for low productivity in cashew because of their high degree of heterozygosity.The seedling plants will also grow more vigorously within short span of time. Hence,the use quality Quality planting materials plants(vegetatively propagated) will help to develop uniform orchards with higher yields. High Density Planting High density planting or ultra density planting appears to be the most appropriate solution to overcome low productivity and initial long waiting period for early returns.To meet the challenge of high productivity,optimization of growth parameters and minimization of the unproductive components of trees without sacrificing the overall health of the tree and quality of the product are required. The controlling tree size by regular pruning in ultra density orchards is one of the methods of increasing production. In ultra density system, yields are improved in early years of planting and helps to increase the productivity by 2-3 times. Comparision of planting density at different methods of planting Sl. No. Methods of Planting Recommended Spacing Accommodation of number of plants/hactare Expected yield hactare / 1 Conventional method 8m x8m or 7mx7m 156 or 204 1-1.5t/ha 2 High Density Planting 5mx5m or 4mx4m 400 or 625 2-2.5t/ha 3 Ultra High Density Planting 3mx3m or 2.5mx2.5m 1111 or 1600 3-4t/ha The grafts allow to grow straight without any side sprouts up to 0.25 to 0.50m height from the ground level. Thereafter, the terminal bud can be pinched off to force frame work of primary branching and subsequent lateral branches from them. Training of young plants Pruning Once the first harvest is completed (usually during May-June),first pruning at 1m height from ground level be taken up subsequently every year at the same height. The plants should be pruned during second week of July (Tertiary branch pruning) to induce current season's shoot production. Increase in number of current season's shoot and number of flower clusters will double the yield of nuts. After pruning, a spray of Bordeaux mixture(1%) is given to prevent the entry of fungal pathogens. Manuring and fertilizer application The annual dose of fertilizers to cashew is to be applied in two split doses. First split doses at onset of monsoon and second split doses during post monsoon period when soil moisture condition at optimum level. Circular trenches of 25 cm deep and 15 cm wide are opened at distance of 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5 m away from trunk during 1st , 2nd , 3rd and 4th year after planting and onwards respectively. The trench should be closed immediately after the application of fertilizers and green leaves can be spread as mulch. During 1st, 2nd , 3rd , 4th and 5th year of planting 1/5th , 2/5th, 3/5th , 4/5th and full quantity of recommended dose is to be applied. The fertilizers dose can be modified depending on the soil type, planting density and crop requirement based on soil test results. The general recommendation for normal density planting is (500g N, 250g, P2O5, 250g K2O, 10-15 kg FYM per plant) in soil of medium fertility status with respect soil test report is as follows.
Transcript of Enhancement of Production Through High-tech Cashew Cultivation · High-tech Cashew Cultivation...
Enhancement of Production Through High-tech Cashew Cultivation
Cashew occupies the status of an important commercial plantation crop in our country. In order to keep pace in the international market, India has to achieve increased nut production of at least 25.0 lakh ton by the year 2030 at copetive price which is challenging and is possible by the use of new technologies developed. With reduced availability of area for Horticulture/Agriculture due to urbanization, industrialization, it has now become imperative to obtain maximum yield per unit area. The main reasons associated with low productivity are non uniform seedling progenies, cultivation under degraded sites, improper management of soil, water and canopy management, senile orchards, low density planting, severe infestation of cashew stem and root borer(CSRB) and tea mosquito bug (TMB). To overcome, these problems, the use of advanced scientific technologies are very much required.
Improved Varieties/Hybrids
The new varieties have an important role in increasing the production and productivity. The performance of varieties vary from region to region, therefore for getting more yield potentials, the varieties should be selected based on its suitability to the region. The important varieties like BPP-8, Dhana,Vengurla-4, Jaganath, Balabhadra, NRCC Selection-2, H-320, H-68 ,Vengurla-9 and H-130 are to be promoted
Majority of old orchards are developed from seedling progenies of nondescript origin,which is one of the major factors for low productivity in cashew because of their high degree of heterozygosity.The seedling plants will also grow more vigorously within short span of time. Hence,the use quality
Quality planting materials
plants(vegetatively propagated) will help to develop uniform orchards with higher yields.
High Density Planting
High density planting or ultra density planting appears to be the most appropriate solution to overcome low productivity and initial long waiting period for early returns.To meet the challenge of high productivity,optimization of growth parameters and minimization of the unproductive components of trees without sacrificing the overall health of the tree and quality of the product are required. The controlling tree size by regular pruning in ultra density orchards is one of the methods of increasing production. In ultra density system, yields are improved in early years of planting and helps to increase the productivity by 2-3 times.
Comparision of planting density at different methods of planting
Sl.No.
Methods of Planting Recommended Spacing
Accommodation of number of plants/hactare
Expected yieldhactare
/
1
Conventional method
8m x8m or 7mx7m
156 or 204 1-1.5t/ha
2
High Density Planting
5mx5m or 4mx4m
400 or 625 2-2.5t/ha
3
Ultra High Density Planting
3mx3m or 2.5mx2.5m
1111 or 1600
3-4t/ha
The grafts allow to grow straight without any side sprouts up to 0.25 to 0.50m height from the ground level . Thereafter, the t e r m i n a l b u d c a n b e pinched off to force frame work of primary branching and subsequent lateral branches from them.
Training of young plants
Pruning
Once the first harvest is completed (usually during May-June),first pruning at 1m height from ground level be taken up subsequently every year at the same height. The plants should be pruned during second week of July (Tertiary branch pruning) to induce current s e a s o n ' s s h o o t p r o d u c t i o n . Increase in number of current season's shoot and number of
flower clusters will double the yield of nuts. After pruning, a spray of Bordeaux mixture(1%) is given to prevent the entry of fungal pathogens.
Manuring and fertilizer application
The annual dose of fertilizers to cashew is to be applied in two
split doses. First split doses at onset of monsoon and second
split doses during post monsoon period when soil moisture
condition at optimum level. Circular trenches of 25 cm deep
and 15 cm wide are opened at distance of 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5 m away
from trunk during 1st , 2nd , 3rd and 4th year after planting and
onwards respectively. The trench should be closed
immediately after the application of fertilizers and green
leaves can be spread as mulch. During 1st, 2nd , 3rd , 4th and 5th
year of planting 1/5th , 2/5th, 3/5th , 4/5th and full quantity of
recommended dose is to be applied. The fertilizers dose can be
modified depending on the soil type, planting density and crop
requirement based on soil test results. The general
recommendation for normal density planting is (500g N, 250g,
P2O5, 250g K2O, 10-15 kg FYM per plant) in soil of medium
fertility status with respect soil test report is as follows.
Print & Design: ankitagraphics, Cell: 9437077337
HI-TECH CASHEW CULTIVATION
AN OPTION FOR ENHANCEMENT OF PRODUCTION
All India Co-ordinated Research Project on CashewOdisha University of Agricultural Technology
Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Prof. P. K. Panda, Dr. (Mrs.) Kabita SethiProf. S. K. Mukherjee
Age of Plant FYM Urea Rock Phosphate MOP(Kg) (gm) (gm) (gm)
1st Year 10 215 315 852nd Year 10 435 625 1703rd Year 10 650 935 2504thYear 10 870 1250 3355th Year & above 15 1085 1560 415
Water management
Cashew respond well to irrigation and yield improvement of more than 50% is reported by providing irrigation to cashew. The water requirement in cashew is decided based on the climatic condition, canopy area and growth phase of the plant. Providing irrigation @200litres per plant at 15days interval
during January to March increases the nut retention a 25-80% increase in yield and yield. The general recommendation for drip irrigation is 60-8-litres of water per tree once in four days starting from flower initiation till fruit set and development. The advantage of drip irrigation is that it offers 30-70% saving of irrigation water and 25-80% increase in yield. Under high density planting system, higher yield and returns from unit area could be achieved by nutrient and water application through fertigation alongwith appropriate canopy management. Fertigation can save 50@ fertilizer requirement while doubling the cashew yield especially during early years of plantation under high density planting in comparision to normal planting.
Harvesting, grading, storage and post-harvest management
Economic nut bearing commences from third year of planting
in conventional planting system but in HDP and UDP system,
the economic yield will starts from 1st and 2nd year planting. In
India, main harvesting season is February to May. Some
farmers harvest the nuts just before they mature to avoid
pilferage but this practice is not good because it leads to poor
quality of kernels. Nuts should be harvested at full maturity.
Fully mature nuts look greyish brown in colour. It is better to
collect the fallen nuts because there is a possibility of
harvesting immature nuts which leads to poor quality kernel
during processing. After harvesting, nut should be separated
from cashew apples and sun dried for 2-3 days. The moisture
content of dried nut should be 8-9% for long storage. If drying is
not done properly there may be chance of microbial
contamination during storage. After drying, nuts are stored in
gunny bags. Grading should be done based on size nuts before
selling for getting better prices.
Plant Protection
Tea Mosquito Bug
Stem and Root Borer
* Flushing shoots, flower clusters and tender nuts are severely damaged by the pest
* To manage the pest, three sprays during different stages of the crop is recommended.
* Flushing stage - spraying of Lamda-cyhalothrin (0.003%).* Flowering stage-spraying of Profenophos (1 ml/lit) or
Carbaryl (0.1%).* Nut setting stage- spraying of Lamda-cyhalothrin (0.003%).
* Affected trees show the symptoms of oozing out of the gum, extrusion of chewed up fibres and excreta, yellowing and shedding of foliage
* Collection and destruction of grubs and adults.* Swabbing of 0.2% chlorpyriphos insecticide on the stem and
root portion* Removal of borer attacked dead trees and trees with
advanced stage of infestation
Different types of weeds compete with cashew plants for nutrients and moisture. Basins have to kept clean up to 3m radius from the base. Keeping the orchard free from weeds helps in easy collection of nuts and reduce the insect pests and disease problem. The weeding may be done either chemically or manually during October-November.Application of Glyphosate (8 to 10ml/litre of water) as post emergence spray during July –August will check the weed growth effectively.
Weed Control
