Respone of cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) to different levels of organic waste in Ile-Oluji

Abstract

A pot experiment was conducted at the Teaching and Research Farm, Federal Polytechnic, Ile-Oluji in the dry season of 2021. The  experiment aim was to determine response of cashew (Anacardium ocidentale, L.) seedlings to different levels of poultry biochar and  cocoa pod husk. The 3x3 factorial experiment was laid out as Completely Randomized Design (CRD) replicated three times. The treatments were administered at different rates (25, 50, 75 and 100%). Treatments without any amendments (control) was included for  comparison. Data were collected at 3, 5, 7 and 9 weeks after planting on plant height by using meter rule, numbers of leaves by counting  individual leaves on the plant, stem girth by using veneer calliper, root length by using meter rule, fresh shoot weight by weighing the  plants on a scale after separating the root from the top and separately weigh and record the root and top for each plant. And dry shoot  weight by measurement of oven dry samples of plant shoot and roots at the end of the experiment. Data were analysed using ANOVA  and treatments means were separated using Least Significance Difference (LSD) at 5%. At the end of the experiment CPH at 50% gave the  best performance followed by 25% level of poultry biochar and this is recommended for cashew farmers in Ile-Oluji.