Enhancing Cashew Seedling Growth:: the Role of Nursery Polythene Bags Sizes on Germination and Growth

The study compared the effects of different polythene bag sizes on cashew seedling germination and growth. The small bag size (6×9 inches) produced the shortest germination time and highest germination percentage, while the large bag size (10×15 inches) supported superior seedling development in terms of plant height, number of leaves, and leaf area. Although variations occurred among treatments, no significant differences were found in germination date or percentage. However, significant differences were recorded in plant height at different growth stages (PH1, PH2, PH3), as well as in the number of leaves and leaf area. The study recommends using larger polythene bags (10×15 inches) for optimal cashew seedling growth and highlights the importance of monitoring nursery conditions to improve germination and overall performance. Furthermore, the research incorporated relevant literature on cashew botany, propagation, nursery management, pest control, economic importance, and value addition to strengthen the findings.