Effect of Potting Media on Growth of Cashew Root Stocks

An experiment was conducted to study the effect of potting media on growth of cashew root stocks during 2013–14 at College of Horticulture, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad. Three potting media, PM₁ (Red earth + FYM + Sand + Neem seed powder in 1: 1: 1: 1 ratio), PM₂ (Red earth + FYM + Sand + Custard apple seed powder in 1: 1: 1: 1 ratio) and PM₃ (Red earth + FYM + Sand + Pongamia seed powder in 1: 1: 1: 1 ratio) and two varieties, BPP-5 and VRI-2 were studied. BPP-5 recorded least number of days for germination and maximum rate of germination while VRI-2 recorded maximum number of leaves, internodal length, seedling height, highest leaf area, seedling girth, root length, shoot to root ratio and lowest percentage of nutrients in the potting media at the end of the experiment. Among the potting media PM₁ recorded minimum days for germination, maximum rate of germination and the highest root length. PM₂ recorded significantly highest germination percentage, number of leaves, leaf area, internodal length, seedling height, seedling girth, shoot to root ratio, percentage of plant nutrients and the lowest percentage of nutrients in the potting media at the end of the experiment. Thus the potting medium with custard apple seed powder found to be good in production of vigorous rootstocks in cashew followed by neem seedpowder.