Research and Development of Nutrient Management on Cashew Nut to Reduce the Effect of Drought in Uttaradit Province
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Abstract
Study on cashew nut nutrient management using chemical fertilizer combined with manure and phosphate-solubilizing biofertilizer was conducted at farmers' plots in Tha Pla District, Uttaradit Province, Thailand. The objective of this study was to determine the optimal combination of chemical and biofertilizers to enhance the efficiency of cashew nut production. The experiment followed a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four replications and five treatments. Treatments 2-4 included nutrient rates of 0.3-0.2-0.25 kg N-P2O5-K2O per tree and 0.6-0.2-0.25 kg N-P2O5-K2O per tree. Treatment 1: Fertilizers and soil amendments applied according to farmers' practices. Treatment 2: Chemical fertilizer applied at specified rates. Treatment 3: Chemical fertilizer at specified rates + phosphate-solubilizing biofertilizer at 500 g/tree. Treatment 4: Chemical fertilizer at specified rates + manure (cow dung at 20 kg/tree) + phosphate-solubilizing biofertilizer at 500 g/tree. The trial was conducted with five farmers during October 2022 - September 2023. The number of seeds per 1,000 g showed statistically significant differences (P<0.05). Treatment 3 had the highest number of seeds, averaging 190.57 seeds. For good quality seeds, statistically significant differences were observed, with treatment 2 producing the highest average at 188.10 seeds. For damaged seeds, statistically significant differences were also noted, with treatment 3 showing the highest average of 7.50 damaged seeds. Kernel weight did not differ statistically, but treatments 2 and 4 yielded the highest kernel weight at 299 g per 1,000 g of seeds. For Benefit-Cost Ratio (BCR), treatment 2 provided the highest return on investment with a BCR of 2.53. In conclusion, the nutrient management approach that effectively promotes cashew nut growth and quality involves applying chemical fertilizer at a rate of 0.6-0.2-0.25 kg N-P2O5-K2O per tree, combined with either biofertilizer or manure.
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