Elaichi Plant: How is the cardamom plant prepared? Know the method of advanced cultivation of cardamom

Elaichi Plant: The hub of cardamom is South India. It is cultivated most in Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. The weather here is very favourable for the production of cardamom. Let us tell you that the cardamom plant remains green throughout the year. Its leaves are one to two feet long.

Due to the excellent fragrance of cardamom, it is used in sweet dishes and curry items. Halwa and sweets are incomplete without cardamom. Cardamom is expensive among spices. This is the reason why farmers get good profit from cardamom cultivation. Let us know how to do advanced cultivation of cardamom.

Climate and soil for cardamom cultivation

Loamy soil is considered the best for cardamom cultivation. Apart from this, it can also be cultivated in laterite and black soil. Also, there should be a good drainage system in the field. Keep in mind that cardamom should not be cultivated in sandy soil. As far as temperature is concerned, a temperature of 10 to 35 degrees is considered better for cardamom cultivation.

Field preparation in cardamom cultivation

Before planting the plants, plow the field deeply and also remove the remains of the previous crop. Then run a rotavator in the field and plow deeply to make the soil flat. After the soil is leveled, if you want to plant the plants on the ridge, then there should be a distance of about one and a half to two feet between two plants and if you want to plant the plants on flat land, then prepare pits at a distance of two to two and a half feet. After this, mix cow dung manure and chemical fertilizer in the soil by adding it to these pits and ridges. The field should be prepared about 15 days before planting the plants.

Preparing nursery for cardamom plants

For cardamom cultivation, first the plants are prepared in the nursery. The seeds of the plants are planted at a distance of 10 cm in the nursery. Before sowing, treat the seeds with proper amount of Trichoderma. About 1.25 kg of seeds are required for one hectare of land. Sowing is done in beds. After sowing, irrigate well. The seeds should be covered with mulching till they germinate so that moisture is maintained.

It is necessary to have a shady place for cardamom plants. After about 3 months, the cardamom plant is ready, which can then be planted in the fields. Transplanting should be done before July. While planting the plants in the field, keep a distance of about 60 cm between each plant. If you are planting the plants on the ridge, then plant them with zigzag technique.

Irrigation and fertilizer in cardamom cultivation

Irrigation should be done immediately after planting the plants. If it is rainy season then irrigation is not required, but in summer the plants need more water. In such a situation, irrigation is necessary from time to time to maintain moisture.

In winter season, water can be given at an interval of 10 to 15 days. Before planting the plants in the field, 10 kg of old cow dung manure and one kg of vermicompost is required for each plant in the pits or on the ridge. Also, for the good growth of the plants, neem cake and poultry manure should be given for two to three years.

How much is the crop in cardamom cultivation?

It takes 3 to 4 years for the cardamom plant to be ready. About 130-150 kg of dry cardamom yield is obtained in one hectare. After harvesting the crop, it is dried in the sun for several days.

After drying it in the sun for 18 to 24 hours, it is rubbed with hands, coir mats or wire mesh. Then they are sorted according to size and colour. Its market price is decided according to the quality, which ranges from Rs 1100 to Rs 2000 per kilogram. In this way, farmers can earn lakhs from cardamom cultivation.

Some of the improved varieties of cardamom are Malabar: Mudgri 1, Mudgri 2, PV 1, PV-3, ICRI 1, ICRI 3, TKD 4, IISR Suvarna, IISR Winner, IISR Avinash, TDK- 11, CCS-1, Suvasini, Avinash, Winner – 1, Appangala 2, Najallani (Green Gold), ICRI-8, Mysore-ICRI 2. Ukka- MCC-12, MCC-16, MCC-40, PV2, PV5.