Top working in cashew

Top working in cashew

      The technique of top working was first standardized at ARS Ullal. It is for the rejuvenation of uneconomical cashew trees. It involves following steps;
    1. Selection of trees:  The selected cashew for rejuvenation should be
        a. Low yielding trees: Trees yielding less than 2 kg per tree are selected.
        b. Trees bearing small sized nuts: Trees producing nuts which weigh less than 200 nuts per kg of raw nut. (i.e., less than 5 g per nut)
        c. Trees which are highly susceptible to tea mosquito attack.
        d. Age: Age between 10 to 25 years are suitable.
        e. Trees free from stem borer infestation.
    2. Beheading of trees:
        a. Time and season of beheading : December to February
        b. Remove branches :
        c. Stumping: Cutting stump at 0.50 m to 0.75 mabove ground level with saw to avoid bark splitting.
        d. Smearing cut portion : Smear the cut portion with BM – 10 % paste or cow dung slurry and red soil.
        e. Basin rectification : Prepare a basin of 1.50 m radius
        f. Plant protection : Paste sevin dust + Blitox ( 50 g sevin dust + 50 g blitox per liter of water)
        g. Provide shade.
    3.  Sprouting of beheaded trees:
        a. Sprouting: New sprouts appear in 30 to 40 days after beheading.
        b. Remove shade
        c. Thinning: Retain 10 to12 healthy shoots/sprouts for grafting and remove others.
        d. Periodical removal of new sprouts to facilitate the growth of selected sprouts.
    4. Selection of Scions:
        a. Select scions from high yielding varieties
        b. Pencil thick and 12 to 15 cm long scion stick with a sprouted bud should be selected from shoots of 3 to 4 months growth.
        c. Preconditioning: Remove all the leaves 7 to 8 days before grafting.
        d. Fresh scion is always preferred for better success.
    5. Grafting:
        a. Select 10 to 12 sprouts for grafting.
        b. Cut the sprout 5 to 6 cm from the top and split it in the middle to 3 – 4 cm depth with the help of a knife.
        c. Technique of grafting : Wedge grafting
        d. Select the scion of the same thickness and give a cut to form a wedge or “V” shape.
        e. Insert the scion: Firmly tie with the help of polythene strip.
        f. Cover the grafted portion with the help of polythene bags./ caps
    6.  After care:
        a. Sprouting in 10 to 15 days. About 5 to 6 successful grafts are sufficient per tree.
        b. Remove excess and unsuccessful shoots.

Last modified: Friday, 14 October 2011, 8:48 AM