The effects of four levels of electrical conductivity of irrigation water (ECw: 0.7; 1.4; 2.1 and 2.8 dS m-1, at 25 ºC), containing Na:Ca:Mg in equivalent proportions of 7:2:1, on germination and initial growth stages of five clones of precocious dwarf cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.): CCP06, CCP09, CCP1001, EMBRAPA50 and EMBRAPA51, during the first 50 days were studied in greenhouse. The experiment was carried out in a randomized block design and 4 x 5 factorial scheme with 4 replications. The germination (days and percentage of emergence) and growth variables (plant height, number of leaves, leaf area and dry weight of root, shoot and total) were evaluated. The majority of variables were found to be influenced by ECw and clones, however no significant interactive effect was observed for the variables. In the treatment of ECw 1.48 dS m-1 90% of relative total biomass production was obtained; this value may be considered as a threshold tolerance for precocious cashew during the initial growth. In general, the clones EMBRAPA51 and CCP1001 showed the least and the highest growth, respectively, during the study period.
electrical conductivity; biomass; Anacardium occidentale L
