CARDAMOM

Varieties: 

• Njallani, Vazhukka, Malabar, and Mysore are the most cultivated varieties of cardamom. 

Selection of site: 

• Choose a site with well-drained soil, moderate slopes, and partial shade. 
• Ensure the availability of irrigation facilities, especially during dry spells. 

Selection of mother plants: 

• Select mother plants with high yield potential, disease resistance, and vigorous growth. 

Selection of seed cuttings: 

• Select healthy and disease-free suckers from well-performing mother plants. 
• Ensure that each sucker has at least 2–3 healthy shoots for successful propagation. 

Nursery techniques: 

• Prepare raised nursery beds with good drainage and organic-rich soil. 
• Plant selected cardamom suckers in polybags filled with soil, sand, and farmyard manure (2:1:1 ratio). 
• Provide adequate shade and maintain proper moisture levels. 

Selection of seedlings: 

• Select healthy, well-rooted seedlings that are 10–12 months old for field planting. 

Field planting: 

• Dig pits of 60 cm x 60 cm x 60 cm and fill them with organic manure and topsoil. 
• Transplant healthy seedlings at the center of each pit. 
• Maintain spacing of 2 m x 2 m for proper growth and ventilation.

• Apply organic manures like compost or farmyard manure (10–12 kg per plant annually). 
• Fertilize with NPK (75:75:150 g/plant/year) in three split doses—before monsoon, mid-monsoon, and post-monsoon. 

• Irrigate during dry periods, especially from December to May. 
• Drip irrigation is recommended to conserve water. 
• Ensure proper drainage to prevent waterlogging during heavy rains.

• Weed control is essential to prevent nutrient competition. 
• Mulch the base of the plants to retain moisture and improve soil health. 

• Prune dry leaves and dead shoots to promote healthy growth. 

  Intercropping and mixed cropping: 

• Cardamom can be intercropped with coffee, arecanut, and banana. 
• Intercrops should be spaced adequately to avoid competition for water and nutrients.

1. Nitrogen Deficiency: 

• Symptoms: Yellowing of older leaves and reduced plant growth. 
• Corrective Measures: Apply urea @ 50–100 g/plant/year or use foliar spray of 2% urea solution. 

2. Potassium Deficiency: 

• Symptoms: Yellowing and browning of leaf tips and margins. 
• Corrective Measures: Apply muriate of potash (MOP) @ 100–150 g/plant/year. 

3. Calcium Deficiency: 

• Symptoms: Malformed leaves and poor fruit development. 
• Corrective Measures: Apply lime @ 500 g/plant once every 2–3 years. 

4. Magnesium Deficiency: 

• Symptoms: Yellowing between leaf veins (interveinal chlorosis) on older leaves. 
• Corrective Measures: Apply magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) @ 50 g/plant. 

Pest Control:  

1. Shoot Borer (Conogethes punctiferalis): 

• Solution: Spray neem oil (0.5%) or quinalphos (0.05%) to manage infestations. 

2. Root Grubs: 

• Solution: Apply neem cake @ 1 kg/plant/year and maintain field hygiene to prevent infestations. 

Disease Control:  

1. Katte (Mosaic) Disease: 

• Solution: Remove and destroy infected plants. Plant disease-free seedlings. 

2. Chenthal (Leaf Spot) Disease: 

• Solution: Spray copper oxychloride (0.2%) or mancozeb (0.25%) to control infection. 

3. Rhizome Rot: 

• Solution: Drench the affected area with Bordeaux mixture (1%) or copper oxychloride.

Harvesting: 

• Cardamom plants start yielding after 2–3 years of planting. 
• Harvesting typically takes place from October to February when capsules turn from green to light yellow. 

Steps for Harvesting: 

1. Handpick mature capsules to avoid damage. 
2. Separate capsules from stalks and clean them. 
3. Dry the capsules in sun-drying units or mechanical dryers until moisture content is reduced to 10–12%. 

Yield: 

• The yield of cardamom depends on variety, climate, and management practices. 
• On average, cardamom yields range from 200–500 kg of dried capsules per hectare annually.