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Cashew (Kaju)All seasonsSoftwood grafted planting material (dual-purpose)Updated 2 September 2026

Dhana

A dual-purpose variety recommended in both Karnataka and Kerala, valued alongside Priyanka for its large, heavy cashew apple suited to apple-processing in addition to nut yield.

SeasonAll seasons
Maturity periodFirst bearing in 3 years (grafted)
Expected yieldGood nut yield with a large, processable cashew apple
Suitable soilTolerant of poor, lateritic and sandy coastal soil

Quick facts

Crop
Cashew (Kaju)
Type
Softwood grafted planting material (dual-purpose)
Season
All seasons
Maturity period
First bearing in 3 years (grafted)
Expected yield
Good nut yield with a large, processable cashew apple
Suitable soil
Tolerant of poor, lateritic and sandy coastal soil
Release
Recommended in Karnataka and Kerala state cashew variety lists; specific institute of origin and notification year not confirmed in this pass

About this variety

Dhana is a cashew variety recommended for cultivation in both Karnataka (alongside Chintamani-1, Chintamani-2, Bhaskara, the Ullal series and others) and Kerala (alongside Priyanka, Kanaka, Amrutha and the Madakkathara series), making it one of the few named releases genuinely recommended across two of India's three main west-coast cashew states. It is specifically noted, together with Priyanka, for bearing a large and heavy cashew apple — commonly cited in the 68–76.5 g range for this pair of varieties — which is deliberately valuable where growers or nearby processors turn the apple into juice, feni or jam rather than discarding it after the nut is removed, adding a genuine second income stream from the same tree.

Key characteristics

    Plant typeSoftwood grafted planting material (dual-purpose)
    MaturityFirst bearing in 3 years (grafted)
    Yield potentialGood nut yield with a large, processable cashew apple
    Disease resistanceNot specifically documented
    SoilTolerant of poor, lateritic and sandy coastal soil
    SeasonAll seasons

Sowing & cultivation

  • Spacing7 x 7 m traditional (~204 trees/ha); can be planted closer in high-density systems
  • FertilizerRoughly 500 g N, 125 g P2O5 and 125 g K2O per bearing tree per year, split around pre-flowering and post-harvest (see the crop guide for the full schedule)

Soil & climate

Soil

Suitable soil
Tolerant of poor, lateritic, gravelly or sandy coastal soil; pH 5.0–6.5

Yield & maturity

Maturity period

First bearing in 3 years (grafted)

Expected yield

Good nut yield with a large, processable cashew apple

Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.

Pest & disease considerations

Advantages & considerations

Why farmers may choose it

  • A genuine dual-purpose tree — a large, heavy cashew apple suited to processing on top of ordinary nut yield.
  • Recommended across both Karnataka and Kerala, a broader state endorsement than most single-state releases.

Things to consider

  • The apple-processing value only pays off where a grower has access to processing (own unit or a nearby buyer) — otherwise the larger apple is simply discarded like any other variety's.
  • Specific institute of origin and precise release year were not confirmed in this pass — treat it as a well-established regional recommendation rather than a recently notified release.

Suitable regions

States this variety is recommended for — check locally, since a state can have more than one recommended zone.

  • Karnataka
  • Kerala

Frequently asked questions

Is Dhana grown mainly for its nut or its cashew apple?

Both — it gives good ordinary nut yield like other commercial varieties, but is specifically valued alongside Priyanka for its unusually large, heavy cashew apple, which adds real processing value where a buyer or processing unit is available.

Sourced from: Top Cashew Varieties for Different Regions in India — Agriculture.Institute. editorial policy.