Cultivation Practices
For planting in new area, ground should be cleared or if it is replanting area,
old plants should be removed. Shaderegulation,terracing and preparation of
pits should be done during summer months.Major cultivation practices
includeShade regulation, Field preparation, Planting,Weed
control,Irrigation,Soil and water conservation,Forking
andmulching,Trashing&Earthing up.
Shade regulation
Shade regulation is one of the important practices. It should be attended to
during summer(March-April) in the newplanting areas and during May-June
after the receipt of summer showers in the existing plantations. If there is
thickshade due to dense branches and bigger leaves, chopping off branches
should be done to provide filtered light of 40 to60 per cent of the open area.
South-western slopes should be provided with more shade than north-
eastern slopes.Shade trees should have small leaves,tap root system and in
summer it should not shed leaves. If area is open due totree fall,planting of
tree species viz., karuna (Vernonia arborea ) Kurangatti (Acrocarpus
fraxinifolius), chandanaviambu (Toona ciliata), njaval tree,vellakil (Dysoxylum
malabaricum) and thelli(Canarium strictum) etc. should betaken up
immediately to protect the plants from direct sunlight. Too much shade or too
much openness of area is notadvisable for cardamom cultivation as it affects
growth and yield.
Main field planting
Cardamom plantation is raised in forests under the shade of tall trees. For
raising a new cardamom plantation, theundergrowth of bushes is
cleared.When open areas like marshy valleys and grasslands are selected for
raising newplantation, shade trees have to be raised before planting
cardamom seedlings,The quick growing shade trees likeVernonia arborea and
Toona ciliata are generally used for this purpose. Cuttings of this tree are
used for planting. Butthis tree is a host of root knot nematode, which infests
cardamom. Other quick growing trees like Albizia can also beused. Useful
trees like jack can be used along with wild nutmeg, kurangatti etc.
Spacing
Mysore and Vazhukka:2 mx2 m to 3 mx 2 m depending on the fertility of the
soil Malabar:1.5 mx 1.5 m to 2 m x2 m depending on the fertility of the soil.
The recommended size of pits is 60 cm x 60 cm x 35 cm, The pits are filled
with rich topsoil at least two months inadvance of planting the seedlings.
Application of well decomposed FYM or compost or leaf mould and 100 g of
rockphosphate with the topsoil in the pit will help in proper establishment
and quick growth of plants. If the selected site isa hill slope,terraces may be
formed before digging pits.
Planting can be done with the commencement of southwest monsoon, before
the heavy rains, A small pit may beformed inside the pit by scooping out soil
at the centre of the pit for planting seedlings, The soil may be put just to
cover the rhizomes.Care should be taken to ensure that the rhizomes do not
go deep into the soil.
Weed control
At the initial stage, if cardamom dump development is not enough, weed
growth will be more. Two or three rounds ofadvisable.Use of
mammatty(spade) for weeding is not advisable because it will loosen the soil
and cause soil erosion.The weeded materials may be used for mulching.
Irrigation
Judicious irrigation during summer months ensures increase in yield by at
least 50%, Irrigation is required generallyfrom February to April but at times
from January to May depending upon rainfall. But in Tamil Nadu,where
thedevelopment of young tillers and panides takes place. If plant suffers
during this stage, yield will be reduced. Watermay be stored during rainy
season wherever possible by constructing check dams without causing much
damage tothe environment.This water can be used for irrigation. Irrigation
can be done through different methods such as potirrigation,hose
irrigation,sprinkler irrigation and drip irrigation depending on the facilities
available in the plantation.Pot irrigation or hose irrigation can be done at
weekly intervals at the rate of 20-30 litres per clump depending uponthe
clump size.In case of sprinkler irrigation, with amount of water equivalent to
35 to 45 mm rain at fortnightlyintervals is recommended under average
conditions. In case of drip irrigation, water at the rate of 4-6 litres per
dumpper day can be given.
Soil and water conservation
Conservation of natural resources like soil and water is very important for
production of the crop. Cultivation oferosion by water. Planting in trenches
across the slope,mulching of soil, diagonal planting and rectangular silt
pitsteep,construction of stone pitching walls at 10-20 m intervals across the
slope and also making water-collectingtrenches along the wall will be helpful.
Forking and mulching
better growth of plants. As far as possible, the entire plantation and
particularly the plant base are to be kept underthe ill effects of drought,for
reducing evaporation loss and to maintain optimum temperature.
Trashing
Trashing consists of removing old tillers, dry leaves and leaf sheaths. This
operation may be carried out once in a yearduring June-July,with the
commencement of monsoon. These materials can also be used as mulch.
Earthing up
This operation is not required in a normal plantation. However, due to erosion
of soil or mismanagement, at times it issituations, earthing up of the plant
base with topsoil is recommended during December-January. While carrying
outthis operation, care should be exercised to ensure that only topsoil is
used, and it is evenly spread at the basecovering only half the bulb portion of
the rhizome. This operation helps to keep the top 10 to 15 cm soil loose
andfriable enabling easy root penetration and water percolation.
Bee-keeping for better pollination
during the flowering season is recommended for increasing fruit set and
production of capsules.
