Evaluating the effects of water stress and irrigation on three cashew origins at juvenile stage for adaptation of agroforestry systems to drought under climate change in Burkina Faso (West Africa)

Abstract

The Drought threatens cashew-based agroforestry systems productivity in Burkina Faso. The objective of this research was to study the  effects of water stress and irrigation on 03 cashew origins for recommendations to maintain and/or improve cashew based agroforestry  systems productivity. The experiment was conducted in a semi-controlled environment using randomised complete blocks, studying the  factors water regime and origin at 03 levels. The number of replication was 4 and the experimental unit was 4 pots. Total dry biomass,  height and survival percentage were measured. The effect of water regime, origin and their interaction were highly significant (P<0,0001)  on total dry biomass and height. The effect of water regime was highly significant (P<0,0001) while the effect of origin and the interaction  were very significant (P=0,004) on survival percentage. Diakadougou origin performed better and the parameters measured were  reduced under water stress and increased under irrigation. Diakadougou origin was the most drought tolerant and Ouessa origin the  most demanding in water. Irrigation and use of drought tolerant origin Diakadougou could contribute in adaptation to drought of  cashew based agroforestry systems. Further research to study drought and irrigation effects on physiological parameters of the cashew  origins studied is required.