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Guides on Growing Cashew Trees from Cultivation, Harvesting to Cashew Nut Production

Cashew tree is very economical especially selling of the Cashew nuts, learn how to grow, botany, ecology, and cultivation of this versatile nut.

The Cashew Nut: A Brief Overview

The cashew nut is a popular snack meals that’s native to Brazil. It is the seed of the cashew tree, which is a member of the Anacardiaceae family. Cashew trees are evergreen and might grow up to 14 meters tall.

They have a long taproot and a shallow lateral root system. Cashew trees are present in tropical and subtropical areas around the globe.

Cashew Tree
Cashew Tree

Cashew nut is a pseudocarp, which implies that it isn’t a true fruit. The true fruit is the cashew apple, which is a fleshy, yellow-orange berry. The cashew nut is connected to the cashew apple by a stalk.

The cashew nut is surrounded by a hard shell that accommodates anacardic acid, a caustic oil. The cashew nut is edible, however it should be processed to take away the anacardic acid.

This cashew nuts are source of protein, fiber, and nutritional vitamins. They are also source of magnesium, phosphorus, and copper. Cashew nuts are common snack food and are also used in many dishes.

The cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) is a useful industrial product. CNSL is used in the manufacturing of paints, varnishes, and plastics.

Cashew Trees – Varieties and Characteristics

There are two fundamental varieties of cashew trees: the common type and the dwarf type. The common type is bigger and extra vigorous than the dwarf type. The common type sometimes takes about 8 years to begin bearing fruit, whereas the dwarf type can begin bearing fruit in as little as 2 years. The common type also produces bigger nuts than the dwarf type.

Cashew trees have many varieties. Some of the preferred varieties include the Valencia, the Anacardium occidentale, and the IAC-1. The Valencia variety is probably the most broadly grown variety of cashew tree. It is a high-yielding variety that produces massive, high-quality nuts.

The Anacardium occidentale variety is a hardy variety that’s resistant to pests and diseases. The IAC-1 variety is a dwarf variety that’s suitable for growing in small gardens.

Cashew Fruit and Nut Production Cycle

The cashew fruit and nut production cycle takes about 12 months. The cashew tree flowers after a dry period. The flowers are pollinated by insects. The cashew fruit matures in about 6 months.

The cashew nut is hooked up to the cashew apple by a stalk. The cashew nut is harvested when it’s ripe.

cashew nut is then processed to remove the anacardic acid.

The Future of the Cashew Industry

The cashew business is rising quickly. The demand for cashew nuts is rising, particularly in developed international locations. The cashew business is going through some challenges, such as pests and diseases.

However, the business is also creating new technologies to enhance manufacturing and processing. The future of the cashew business seems to be brilliant.

Botany of the Cashew Tree

The cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale) is a member of the Anacardiaceae family, which also consists of the mango and pistachio trees. It is an evergreen tree that may develop up to 14 meters tall. The cashew tree has a long taproot and a shallow lateral root system.

The leaves are spirally organized, elliptic to obovate, and have easy margins. The flowers are small and greenish-white. They are borne in panicles, that are clusters of flowers. The cashew fruit is a pseudocarp, which implies that it isn’t a true fruit.

The true fruit is the cashew apple, which is a fleshy, yellow-orange berry. The cashew nut is connected to the cashew apple by a stalk which is surrounded by a hard shell that contains anacardic acid, a caustic oil.

 

Cashew-nut-flowers-HowToFarms
Cashew-nut-flowers-HowToFarms

Anatomy of the Cashew Tree

The cashew tree has a well-developed taproot that may attain a depth of up to 6 meters. The lateral root system is shallow and spreading. The leaves are spirally organized and have simple, pinnate venation.

The flowers are small and greenish-white. They are borne in panicles, that are clusters of flowers.

Parts of the Cashew Fruit and Nut

The cashew apple is edible, however it isn’t as common as the cashew nut. The cashew apple might be eaten fresh or used to make juice, jam, or jelly. The cashew nut is an effective source of protein, fiber, and nutritional vitamins.

It can also be supply of magnesium, phosphorus, and copper. Cashew nuts are a popular snack food and are also used in many dishes.

Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CNSL)

The cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) is a useful industrial product. CNSL is a transparent, colorless liquid that’s extracted from the cashew nut shell. CNSL is used in the production of paints, varnishes, and plastics.

It can also be used as fuel and as a pesticide.

Ecology of the Cashew Tree

The cashew tree is native to northeastern Brazil. It is now grown in tropical and subtropical areas around the globe. The cashew tree is a hardy tree that may tolerate a variety of soil types and weather conditions.

However, the tree prefers well-drained sandy loam soils with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5. The cashew tree also requires a warm, humid climate with an annual rainfall of 1,000 to 2,000 mm.

Cashew tree is a long-lived tree that may produce fruit for up to 100 years. The tree flowers after a dry period. The flowers are pollinated by insects. The cashew fruit matures in about 6 months.

The cashew nut is harvested when it’s ripe. The cashew nut is then processed to take away the anacardic acid.

Pests and Diseases of the Cashew Tree

The cashew tree is vulnerable to a lot of pests and diseases. Some of the commonest pests include the cashew thrip, the cashew leaf miner, and the cashew stem borer.

Some of the commonest diseases include cashew leaf spot, cashew rust, and cashew gummosis.

Management of Pests and Diseases of the Cashew Tree

The management of pests and diseases of the cashew tree is important to guarantee a healthy and productive crop. There are a number of methods that can be utilized to handle pests and diseases, including:

  • Cultural practices: These include practices such as crop rotation, sanitation, and pruning.
  • Biological control: This entails the usage of pure enemies, such as predators and parasites, to control pests.
  • Chemical control: This entails using pesticides to control pests and diseases.

The choice of management methodology will depend on the precise pest or disease being targeted. It is essential to use integrated pest management (IPM) to make sure that the cashew tree is protected from pests and diseases in a sustainable manner.

Cashew
Cashew-Howtofarms

Cultivation of the Cashew Tree

The cashew tree is a relatively easy tree to cultivate. However, there are a number of essential factors to consider when planting and caring for a cashew tree.

Site Selection

The cashew tree prefers well-drained sandy loam soils with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5. The tree needs to be planted in a sunny location that receives a minimum of 6 hours of sunlight per day.

Planting

Cashew trees might be planted from seeds or seedlings. Seeds needs to be planted in a nursery bed and transplanted to the sector when they’re about 6 months old. Seedlings might be planted directly in the field too.

Watering

The cashew tree needs regular watering, especially throughout the first 12 months after planting. Once the tree is established, it could actually tolerate some drought.

Fertilization

The cashew tree needs to be fertilized regularly. A balanced fertilizer, such as 10-10-10, needs to be applied every 3 months interval.

Pruning

The cashew tree needs to be pruned frequently to keep a good condition and to take away dead or diseased branches. Pruning needs to be executed during the dry season.

Harvesting

The cashew fruit matures in about 6 months. The cashew nut is harvested when it’s ripe. The cashew nut is then processed to remove the anacardic acid.

Cashew apples
Cashew apples

Yield

A mature cashew tree can produce up to 100 kg of nuts per 12 months. The yield of the cashew tree will rely on the tree’s variety, local weather, and management practices.

Conclusion

The cashew tree is a useful crop that may be grown in tropical and subtropical areas around the globe. The cashew nut is a popular snack food and can also be used in many dishes. Cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) is a valuable industrial product.

The cultivation of the cashew tree is relatively simple. However, there are a number of essential factors to consider, such as site selection, planting, watering, fertilization, pruning, harvesting, and pest and disease management.

With correct care, the cashew tree can produce a high yield of nuts for many years. The cashew tree is a valuable addition to any tropical or subtropical garden.

Call to Action

If you have an interest in growing cashew trees. I encourage you to do some further research to study more in regards to the particular cultivation practices crucial on your area.

You can also check out my post on “Cashew Nuts harvesting and processing”, you’ll be able to see the profitability opportunity in growing Cashew Trees.

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ABOUT AUTHOR

Ekemode Akinola
An Agricultural Consultancy, an Agricultural science teacher with over 4 years experience AND an active Heliciculture and Goatherd farmer - Nigeria Certificate In Education (Agricultural Science) - Bachelor's Degree in Agricultural Science
Ekemode Akinola
Ekemode Akinolahttps://howtofarms.com
An Agricultural Consultancy, an Agricultural science teacher with over 4 years experience AND an active Heliciculture and Goatherd farmer - Nigeria Certificate In Education (Agricultural Science) - Bachelor's Degree in Agricultural Science

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