Cashew tree withstood the severe drought in SEVAI Watershed

Survival of Cashew trees in SEVAI Watershed

Cashew tree withstood the severe drought of 2012-13 in SEVAI target villages such as Dasilnaicknoor, Thottiyapatty inn Trichirapalli Region. The most important element SEVAI kept in mind when growing a cashew tree is that they originated in the tropical region, and, therefore, require warm year-round temperatures to thrive, as they are very frost sensitive. Cashew trees tolerates hot temperatures well, whether wet or dry, and a temperature near or above 41° Celsius did not harm them. A cashew tree can take around five years before it starts to fruit. They grow to a height of around 40 feet (12 meters) when fully mature. Caring for a cashew tree once a seedling is established is fairly simple, as they are drought-resistant and can tolerate marginally fertile soils well in which other fruit trees and nut trees would not survive. They prefer well-drained, sandy soil, and, during fruiting and dry periods, should be watered and fertilized with a fertilizer composed mostly of nitrogen, phosphorus, and trace amounts of zinc. Poorly drained soils will inhibit tree growth. Cashews tolerate a wide range of soil types, but the best growth and production occur in deep, well-drained sands or loams. In deep friable soils, full development of the extensive lateral root system occurs, and the deep taproot system reaches several metres in length and can sustain the tree through long dry seasons. Deep sands, sandy loams, gravelly soils and red latosols have been found to be physically ideal, although the lighter soils require special care with nutrition. Cashews cannot tolerate poor drainage. Shallow soils give rise to a poorly-developed root system with consequent low drought tolerance and unthrifty top growth. Such trees are easily blown over during the wet season.-Govin