Performance Evaluation of Different Accession of Anacardium occidentale L. Seed under Various Substrates

Abstract

This study aims to determine which accession of cashew has the best growth rate and germination in the nursery. Trial was conducted in the year 2019 using split-plot design. The first factor is the provenance of seeds, namely the Sudano-Sahelian zone and High Guinean savannah zone, and the second factor is type of organic matter entering the substratum composition cow dung (BV), goat droppings (BC) and poultry droppings (FP). The data were taken on the percentage of seed germination and growth parameters (height, number of leaves, collar diameter and leaf area). The analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare means between treatments and the means were separated by LSD test (Least Significant Difference). The results obtained indicate that the seed from sudano-sahelian zone has a good percentage of germination and best plant growth than those obtained from Guinean savannah highland Zone. The maximal percentage of germination after 28 days of sowing is 86.11%, 80% and 62.33% respectively in the BV, BC and FP substratum for the seed of sudano-sahelian zone against 84.44% (substratum FP), 82.22% (substratum BC) and 71.11% (substratum BV) for the seed of Guinean highland Savannah Zone. Regarding the growth of plant, for the two seed used, substrate with cow dung has high influence on the number of leaves, plant height and diameter of plant than the substrate that content the two other organic manures. In contrary, the surface area of leaf and the height to diameter ratio has been stimulated by the substratum containing goat droppings for the seed of sudano-sahelian zone. However, for the seed of Guinean highland Savannah, the high surface area was obtained in the substratum containing cow dung. The result showed that utilization of organic manures in the substrate composition may constitute a great potential for improving seed germination and plant growth of Anacardium occidentale. Seed from sudano-sahelian zone and substratum that consists cow dung and goat droppings may be suggested to farmers for better production of Anacardium occidentale saplings in a nursery.