Varietal evaluation and intercropping studies in cashew

Cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) belonging to the family anacardiaceae is one of the important dollar earning plantation crops of the country.Despite its importance in the economy of the country and its cultivation on extensive scale, the productivity of cashew is extremely low. Therefore identification of varieties for different aggro climatic conditions is of vital importance in increasing the production of cashew nut in the country. To meet the demand of better planting materials for large scale plantations, it is necessary to evaluate the yield potential of cashew varieties under different aggro climatic conditions. To satisfy the farmers as well as processors, it is necessary to evaluate and identify the cashew varieties with higher yield along with desirable processing characteristics.In Belgaum district cashew is popularly cultivated in Khanapur taluk and part of Bailahongal and Belgaum talukas. Information on the performance of newly released varieties under northern transition zone is not available. There is a need to identify suitable spice crops as inter-crops under cashew based cropping systems under northern transition zone of Karnataka.