Horticulture :: Propagation :: Introduction

Spices and Plantation Crops

Cardamom: Elettaria cardamomum (Maton.)

Propagation from seeds:

  • Collect seeds from healthy and high yielding plants. Seed rate – 600g/ha (fresh seeds).

  • Treat with commercial grade Sulphuric acid or Hydrochloric acid for 20 minutes.

  • Wash with water. Prepare the beds with equal quantity of well rotten cattle manure, wood ash and jungle soil.

  • Sow the seeds in beds and cover with a thin layer of fine sand. Mulching and shading may be provided to seed beds.

  • The beds should be kept moist but not too wet.

  • Germination starts usually a month after sowing and continues upto three months.

  • One year old seedlings are transplanted to secondary nursery

Secondary nursery:

  • Prepare the beds. As that of primary nursery, shade is provided by erecting overhead pandal

  • Seedlings planted at a distance of 20 x 20 cm. 18-22 months old seedlings are used for transplanting. Polybags of 20 x 20 cm size can be used.

Propagation from suckers:

  • Suckers from high yielding plants are planted in clonal gardens.

  • Spacing 1.8 m x 0.6 m (6800 plants/ha of clonal nursery).

  • Shade and Irrigation is provided, 32 – 42 suckers obtained from each planting unit in 12 months

 

Update on: July 2015
 

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