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Most cashew orchards in Brazil are located in semi-arid tropics, where water is scarce and has salinity problems. Based on this fact, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of water salinity on initial development of clones of cashew. Treatments were arranged in a 5 x 2 factorial design with four replications, relative to electrical conductivity of water for irrigation (ECw) (0, 3.0, 6.0, 9.0 and 12.0 dS m(-1)), and two clones of cashew (BRS 274 and BRS 275). The variables evaluated were: percentage of emergence (PE), rate of emergence (IVE), mean emergence time (TME), seedling height (AP), diameter of the seedling (DP), leaf area (AF), leaf dry matter (MSF), stem dry matter (MSC) and root dry matter (MSR) obtained 30 days after emergence. There was an interaction between clones and salinity of irrigation water for the variables PE and IVE. All parameters studied were affected by salinity of irrigation water and the clone BRS 275 presented superior results for PE, IVE, TME, AF and MSF variables compared to clone BRS 274.