Abstract:
Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) is an important plantation crop in Sri Lanka’s dry
zone, where improving land productivity is essential for sustainable development. This
study evaluated seedling and budded cashew plants under plantation conditions in the
Dry Zone Low Country (DL3) of Sri Lanka. The experiment was established in 2011 at
the Puttalam Plantation of the Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation using a randomised
complete block design (RCBD) with two replicates. WUCC 19 budded plants and
seedlings were planted at 6 m × 6 m (80 plants acre⁻¹) and 9 m × 9 m (40 plants acre⁻¹),
respectively, based on recommended spacing systems. Each plot measured 0.5 acre
and contained 20 seedling plants or 40 budded plants. Annual nut yield data were
recorded to 2025, and land productivity was calculated as kg acre⁻¹ year⁻¹. Data were
analysed using ANOVA, and mean separation was performed using Tukey’s HSD test at
p ≤ 0.05. Budded plants initiated bearing in 2013, while seedlings began in 2015. At the
initial productive stage (2015), land productivity was 28 kg acre⁻¹ year⁻¹ for budded
plants compared to 4 kg acre⁻¹ year⁻¹ for seedlings. In 2020, productivity reached 576
kg acre⁻¹ year⁻¹ and 200 kg acre⁻¹ year⁻¹, respectively. At maturity (2025), budded
plants achieved 772 kg acre⁻¹ year⁻¹ compared to 290 kg acre⁻¹ year⁻¹ for seedlings (p
< 0.05). Differences in productivity reflect combined effects of planting material and
spacing. Budded plants provided earlier economic returns due to earlier bearing.
Limited to two replicates; more replicates and multi-location trials are recommended.
Overall, the findings indicate that budded cashew plants exhibit earlier bearing and
higher land productivity than seedlings, highlighting their potential for improving
cashew production in Sri Lanka’s dry zone.
