 Krishi Vigyan Kendra (ICAR) Papum-Pare Directorate of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Nirjuli, Arunachal Pradesh-791109 |
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Large Cardamom Management
Large cardamom is a shade loving plant. Its natural habitat is humid, subtropical, semi evergreen forest on steep hills of eastern sub Himalayan region. Large cardamom is mainly used as spice and for flavoring foods. It also has certain medicinal properties.
Sowing time: Sept - Oct. Transplanting period: May – June Best planting material: suckers
Primary nursery: 1. Site – select where perennial source of water is available and transportation is easy. 2. Seed bed – prepare in well-drained soil, dug to a depth of 30cm. on this seedbeds of 15-20cm height ,1m wide and 6m length is made. 3. Manure – well decomposed compost or cattle manure is mixed with soil and surface of the bed is brought to fine tilth. 4. Sowing – 80 – 100g of seed per bed is sown in line across the bed at 10cm distance and cover with fine soil and mulch with paddy straw or dried grass. Regular but minimum frequent watering in early morning is needed to keep the bed moist. Nursery beds are kept weed free. Seedlings are ready for transplanting into secondary beds 3 – 4 months after germination.
Secondary nursery
Ø Bed size of 15cm, 1m width with convenient length is prepared. Ø Well decomposed cattle manure is mixed with soil and the surface of the bed made even. Ø Healthy seedlings with 3 – 4 leaves are transplanted at 15cm spacing during May to June on the beds. Ø Overhead pandal with agro shade net erected over the beds. Ø Seedlings of 45 – 60cm height with 2 – 3 tillers are taken for transplanting in the main field during June to July. Cultivation
Planting
The plantation site should be near a perennial water source. A permanent place for curing should be planned preferably at the entrance while compost pits are located on rear side of the plantations. Planning and planting of shade tree saplings should be made well in advance by at least 2 years.
After care
Weed thrashing is carried out tw3ice a year, once during the onset of monsoons (May – June) and before harvesting. Mulching is done by covering fallen leaves around the collar region of the clumps during Nov – Apr.
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