Effects of Nut Weight and Sowing Depth on Emergence and Growth of Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) Seedlings

Abstract

An experiment was carried out at the nursery of the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana, Tafo, to determine the influence of nut weight and depth of sowing on the emergence and viguor of cashew seedlings. The factorial experiment was laid out in a split plot with four replications. Nut weight and depth of sowing served as the main and sub-plots respectively. Data collected included percent final emergence, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, leaf chlorophyll content, leaf chlorophyll fluorescence (fv/fm), rate of photosynthesis, seedling height, stem diameter and dry matter accumulation. The results showed that seedlings generated from nuts weighing over 8 g were more vigorous, ranking high on physiological parameters such as stomatal conductance, photosynthesis at the leaf level and dry matter accumulation, and morphological parameters such as height and stem diameter gain. Cashew nuts sown at the 2 cm depth gave superior emergence although dry matter accumulation after three months was unaffected by sowing depth. It was therefore concluded that nuts weighing 8 g be sown at 2 cm depth for raising cashew seedlings to be used as root stock.