Cashew Seedlings Nursery Production in University of Abuja Nigeria and its Response to Different Organic Amendments

Abstract

Organic waste materials are embedded with plant nutrients augmented to contain nutrients used for plant use and raising cashew seedlings in the nursery. This study aims to observe the effect of organic materials as soil amendments in the growing of cashew seedlings. The treatments consisted of two cashew nut types (Jumbo and Medium size) and three organic materials: Cocoa pod husk-Biochar, Rice husk, Maize barn, and a control. These planting materials were arranged as Jumbo Nut-Control, Medium Nut-Control, Jumbo nut+Biochar, Medium nut+Biochar, Jumbo nut+Maize Bran, Medium nut+Maize Bran, Jumbo nut+Rice Husk, Medium nut+Rice Husk, Jumbo nut+Biochar+Maize Bran+Rice Husk and Medium nut+Biochar+Maize Bran+Rice Husk laid in a Complete Randomized Design with three replications. The seedlings were raised with a 10kg topsoil mix with 9.0g (5t/ha) of organic materials and control. Data collected include plant height, stem girth, numbers of leaves, leaf area, fresh and dry offshoot weight, root weight, and taproot length, analyzed with SAS statistical package and Mean separation using Tukey’s Studentized Range Test at (P≤0.05). The pre-and post-soil were analyzed for chemical properties. The result showed that the organic amendments improved the chemical properties of the soil. Although these nutrient amendments improved crop productivity, their effectiveness was pronounced in the medium cashew nut. At termination, the control treatments had the least fresh and dry shoot, root weight and shortest Root length when compared to other treatments. Conclusively, Cocoa pod husk-Biochar, Rice Husk and Maize Barn should be considered in cashew nursery and field trial upon transplanting.