Spice Farming
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 Cardamom(Small)
Cardamom (Elettaria cardamom Maton) the "Queen of Spices", enjoys a unique position in the international spices market, as one of the most sought after spices. From time immemorial, India is known as the home of cardamom. Cardamom is indigenous to the evergreen forests of Western Ghats in South India. Till recently India was the main producer and exporter of this commodity. Of late Guatemala has emerged as a keen competitor to Indian cardamom in the international market. The total area under cardamom in India is estimated as 81,113 hectare.
Cardamom is used for flavouring various food preparations, confectionery, beverages and liquors. It is also used for medicinal purpose, both in Al!opathy and Ayurveda systems. In the Middle East countries, cardamom is mainly used for preparation of 'Gahwa' cardamom flavoured coffee.
Cardamom is indigenous to South India and Sri Lanka. The cardamom of commerce is the fruit (capsule) of the plant, Elettaria cardamomum Maton. The genus belongs to the natural order Scitaminae, family Zingiberaceae under Monocotyledons with diploid chromosome number of 2n=48. It is basically a pseophytic plant growing under shade in evergreen forests. It is propagated through seeds, suckers and tissue culture plantlets. Cardamom plants mature in about 20-22 months after planting polybag seedlings or rhizomes. Economic yield starts from 3rd year onwards after planting, and it continues up to 8-10 years. The total life span of cardamom plants is about 15-20 years; however pseudostem is biannual in nature.
VARIETIES
Two varieties of cardamom plants are identified, and they are Elettaria cardamomum Maton, variety major comprised of wild indigenous types of Sri Lanka and "Elettaria "cardamomum Maton,-variety, minor comprising of cultivars like, Mysore, Malabar and Vazhukka. These types are grown in different tracts and are mostly identified on the nature of panicles, size of plants and other morphological characters. Cardamom varieties are highly location specific.
MORPHOLOGY
A mature cardamom plant may measure about two to four meters in height. It is a shallow rooted plant. Leaves are distichous, lanceolate or oblong-Ianceolate or ovate in shape with short petioies. Primary leaves are reniform or roundish in shape. Ligules are green or red tinted purple in colour with pigmented or non-pigmented midrib. Leaves are glabrous or pubescent. Pseudostem has light green or reddish purple or purple colour. Tiller production takes place throughout the year. However, peak period is from January to March. Flowers are born on panicles which emerge directly from the swollen base of the aerial shoot. Flowers are open, bisexual, with calyx, corolla, staminode, anther, stigma and well developed labellum. Stigma is positioned above the anther. It is a cross pollinated plant and pollination occurs by external agents like honey bees, the "chief pollinators. Labellum is prominent, and attract honey bees who insert their proboscis into the two nectar glands situated at the base of the flower. The foraging activities lead to pollination in flower. The 2 panicles are erect in the 'Mysore, prostrate in the 'Malabar' and intermediate (pendent) in 'Vazhukka' type panicles may be branched or simple. The peak period of panicle emergence is from -November to March. Flowering normally commences from February and extends upto October, May-August being the peak flowering period. After fruit set, about 90 - 120 days are requlred for the fruits to attain maturity. The capsules are globose or ovoid or narrowly ellipsoid to elongate in shape, trilocular, containing 15-20 seeds. On maturity seeds turn dark brown to black in colour. Capsules are pale green to dark green in colour.
1. Cultivar Malabar
These cardamom plants have medium size and attain two to three meters height on maturity. The dorsal side of leaves may be pubescent or glabrous. The panicles are prostrate and the fruits are globose to oblong shape. This type of cardamom plants are better suited to areas of 600 to 1200 meters elevation. 'Malabar'type is considered as relatively less susceptible to thrips. This type is mostly cultivated in Karnataka. It can thrive under low rainfall and seasonal rainfall conditions. Malabar type is cultivated to a lesser extent in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
2. Cultivar Mysore
Plants belonging to this type are robust and attain three to four meters in height. The leaves are lanceolate or oblong -lanceolate or glabrous on both sides. The panicles are erect and the capsules are ovoid bold and dark green in colour. They are better adapted to altitudes-ranging from 900 to 1200meters from sea level and thrive well under assured, well distributed rainfall conditions. This type is mostly cultivated in Kerala and in certain pockets of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.
3. Cultivar Vazhukka
This is considered to be the natural hybrid of Malabar and Mysore types and consequently, the plants belonging to this group exhibit various characteristics intermediate to Mysore and Malabar types. The plants are robust like Mysore type. Its leaves are deep green, oblong-lanceolate or ovate, panicles are semi-erect (pendent) in nature and capsules are bold globose or ovoid in shape. It is extensively cultivated in Kerala and Tamil Nadu at elevations ranging from 900 - 1200 meters above sea level.
HIGH YIELDING VARIETIES AND SELECTIONS
Various research institutions working on the crop improvement aspects of cardamom have selected a number of elite high yielding clones having an yield potential of above 250 Kg/ha (rainfed) and superior capsule characters. They are being successfully taken up for cultivation in planters fields according to their agroclimaticadaptability. Prominent among them are detailed in Table -1.
CLIMATE AND SOIL
The natural habitat of cardamom is the evergreen forests of Western Ghats. It is found to grow within an altitude ranging between 600 and 1200 meters above MSL. Considerable variations both in the total rainfall pattern and its distribution are noticed in the cardamom tracts . In most of the cardamom areas, the annual rainfall is between 1500 to 4000 mm and the temperature ranges from 10 to35 C. Cardamom generally grows well in forest loamy soils. These soils are generally acidic in nature, with pH from 4.2 to 6.8 Analytical data of soil samples in 10 to 35 Ccardamom growing tracts indicate that they are high in organic matter and nitrogen, low to medium in available phosphorous and medium to high in available potassium.
NURSERY MANAGEMENT
In order to raise a cardamom plantation, seedlings or suckers of high yielding varieties are to be used. The different steps involved in raising the nursery are given below:
1. Primary nursery
a. Size selection:
 
Select nursery sites on gentle slopy area and preferably near to a perennial water source. Clean the area from all existing vegetation, stumps, roots, stones etc. In the cleared area, beds can be prepared with one meter width, 20 cm height and required length, generally six meters. Jungle top soil can be spread to a thickness of 2 to 3 cm on the beds. Fumigate the beds with 2% formaline (10 L per bed) which will help in eliminating the pathogens, nematodes and other soil pests. Fumigation should be done in raised nursery beds before sowing. The beds should be made air tight by covering with polythene sheets and the fumigant is allowed to penetrate into the soil for two or three days. Later the treated beds should be kept open for another week before taking up sowing.
b. Seed collection:
 
Fully ripened bold capsules from high yielding and disease-free mother clumps of known source can be collected from second and third harvests for seed extraction. Seeds after extraction should be washed using water to remove them mucilage. It is then mixed with wood ash and dried in shade. Storage of seed is not advisable for longer period, because it is experimentally proved that 15 days of storage decreased germination for about 20% and 3 to 5 months storage decreased germination up to 94%. Therefore sowing of seeds after the extraction should not be delayed much. Sowing in September is the best for good germination. Sowing in winter and during south west monsoon should be avoided.
c. Seed treatment:
 
Cardamom is having a hard seed coat which will prevent good germination. Seed treatment with acid or similar chemicals improves the germination. Treatment with concentrated sulphuric or nitric acid for two minutes is sufficient to break the seed coat. Planters can get their seeds treated in the Research stations of Spices Board or they can do it by themselves. The technique involved is very simple. The seed is to be cleaned with water if it is covered with ash and dry them in shade. Take the seed in a glass jar and place the jar in cold water; Then slowly pour acid in the jar so as to drench the seed, stir gently for about two minutes and drain the acid using a strainer. Transfer the seed immediately to a large volume of water. Wash the seed free of acid in running water and later soak in water and keep overnight. The seed is ready for sowing on the next day.
d. Sowing:
 
Sowing can be done in lines in rows at a distance of 10 cm. Seed rate is 30 to 50 gm per 6x1 m size bed. After sowing cover the bed with thin layer of fine soil and then with mulch material, such as potha grass or paddy straw. Avoid contact of much materials with the soil by supporting twigs laid across the bed. Water the beds to sufficient moisture conditions. Once sprouting is observed, remove the mulch and cover the bed with thinly sliced mulch material. To protect the seedlings from direct sunlight, provide overhead pandal. Germination commences 20 to 25 days after sowing and continues for further 30 to 40 days.
2. Secondary Nursery
  There are two methods of raising seedlings in secondary nursery: They are bed and polybag nurseries.
 
a. Bed nursery:
 

Prepare beds as in primary nursery. A layer of cattle manure and wood ash may be spread on the bed and mixed with soil. Seedlings of three to four leaf stage from the primary nursery beds can be transplanted in the secondary nursery at a distance of 20 to 25 ems. Mulching and watering of beds should be done immediately after transplanting. Over head pandal can be erected to protect seedlings from direct sunlight.

b. Poly bag nursery:
 

Black HM/HDP bags of 20 x 20 cms size and thickness of 100 guage with 3 to 4 holes at the bottom can be used for this purpose. Fill the bags with potting mixture in the ratio of 3:1:1 jungle top soil, cowdung and sand. The bags may be arranged in rows of convenient length and breadth for easy management. Seedlings at three to four leaf stage can be transplanted into each bag (One seedling/bag). Adequate space in between the bags may be provided for better tillering. The advantages of raising seedling in polybags are:
 
1.

Seedlings of uniform growth and tiilering can be obtained.
2.
Nursery period can be reduced to five to six months after transplanting the seedlings as against 10 to 12 months in the secondary nursery.
3. Better establishment and growth of seedlings in the main field.
  Cardamom plants from secondary nursery or polybags can be transplanted to the main field during the last week of May after receipt of pre-monsoon showers or the first week of June soon after commencement of south west monsoon.
3. Vegetative propagation
 
This method is simple, reliable and facilitates easy Multiplication of selected types. Plants raised from rhizome come to bearing earlier than the seedlings raised from seeds by about an year. Vegetative propagation is advantageous in areas where viral diseases are not a problem.
 
Rhizome multiplication may be taken up from the first week of March to the first fortnight of October. The site is selected in open gently slopping well drained areas near a source of water. Trenches of 45 cm width and 45 cm depth and convenient length are taken across the slope or along the contour at 1.8 m apart. They are filled with equal quantity of humus rich top soil, sand and cattle manure. Uproot a part of the high yielding disease free mother clump identified in the plantation. Trim the roots and separate suckers so that the minimum planting unit consists of one grown up tiller and a growing young shoot. Plant them at a spacing of 1.80m x 0.60 m in filled up trenches. Provide sufficient mulch and stake each planting unit. Provide overhead panda I as in the case of seedling nursery and remove shading material with onset of monsoon rains. Provide irrigation once in a fortnight and adopt necessary plant protection measure. Apply fertilizers 100:50:200 kg/ha NPK in six splits at an interval of two months. Appiication of DAP and MOP for first two rounds enables better establishment and growth. Apply neem cake @ 100-150g per plant along with fertilisers. On an average 20 to 30 suckers/initial planting unit can be produced within one year of planting. Care should be taken to identify and collect mother clumps only from areas totally free from viral diseases.
FIELD PLANTING AND MANAGEMENT
Before taking up the planting, field should be made ready. For planting in a new area, ground should be cleared and if it is replanting area, aid plants should be removed. Shade regualtion, terracing and preparation of pits should be done during summer months.
a. Shade regulation:
 

Shade regulation is one of the important practices. It should be attended to during summer (March-April) in the new planting areas and during May-June after the receipt of summer showers in the existing plantation. If there is thick shade due to dense branches and bigger leaves, chopping off branches should be done to provide filtered light of 40 to 60 percent of the open area. Cut alternate side branches of tree in the lower one third to half portion of the total canopy height. Lopping should not be done on one side only. Cutting branches from all the sides ensures a balanced canopy. 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 to tree fall, planting of tree species viz: Karuna (Vernonia arborea) Corangati, Chandana Viambu, Njaval tree etc. should be taken up immedediately to protect the plants from direct sun light. Too much shade or too much openness of area is not advisable for cardamom cultivation as it affects growth and yield.
b. Field preparation:
 
In areas having medium and steep slopes, soil preparation will be different from that of gentle slopes. In slopy areas soil should be protected from soil loss (erosion) due to rains for which planting should be taken up in terraces. Terraces should be made across the slope at required distances depending on the spacing adopted. Almost 8 to 15 cm depth of top soil should be removed before making terraces and kept aside which can be used tor pit filling. Width of terraces should be 1.5 to 1.8 m. Pits of 90 x 90 x 45 cm can be prepared before commencement of monsoon, about 1/3 of the pit should be filled with top soil and 1/3 should be filled with 1:3 mixture of organic manure and top soil. In low rainfall areas, trenches of size 75 cm width and 30 cm depth may be taken and plants may be planted at a spacing of 1 to 1.5m.
c. Planting:
 
Planting material of high yielding variety suitable for the areas may be selected for planting. They may be planted in the already prepared and filled pits and plants should be protected from wind by staking. For Mysore and Vazhukka cultivars plant to plant distance can be 3x3 m or 2.4x 2.4 m when planted in high rainfall or irrigated areas. A spacing of 1.8 x 1.8 m or 1.2 x 1.8 m is suitable in Karnataka. Immediately after planting, the plant base should be mulched well with available dried leaves to protect soild from erosion and conservaiton of moisture. Planting should be done diagonally to the slope which will be helpful as a self protector of soil.
d. Weed control:
 
Weeds .are potential competitors in the consumption of water and nutrients which will depress the cardamom growth. At the intitial stage, if cardamon clump development is not enough, weed growth will be more. Two or three rounds of hand weeding at the plant base during May, September and December/January and slash weeding in other areas are advisable. Use of mammatty (spade) for weeding is to be avoided as it will loosen the soil and cause soil erosion. The weeded materials may be used for mulching.
e. Irrigation:
 
Judicious irrigation during summer months ensures increase in yield by at least 50%. Irrigation is required gererally from February to April but at times from January to May depending upon availability of rainfall. But in Tamil Nadu, where the South-West monsoon is not very effective, irrigation during March August is advisable. This is the period in which development of young tillers and panicles takes place. If plant suffers during this stage, yield will be reduced. Water may be stored during rainy season wherever possible by constructing check dams without causing much damage to the environment. This water can be used for irrigation. Irrigation can be done through different methods such as pot irrigation, 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 20-30L per clump depending upon the clump size. In case of sprinkler, irrigation with amount of water equivalent to 35 to 45 mm rain at fortnightly intervals is recommended under average conditions. In case of drip irrigation, water at the rate of 4-6 L per clump per day can be given.
f. Soil and water conservation:
 
Conservation of natural resources like soil and water is very important for production of the crop. Cultivation of agricultural cwps on slopy hills with intensive operation which loosen and expose the soil will increase the soil erosion by water. Planting in trenches across the slope, mulching of soil, diagonal pianting and opening of rectangular silt pit (1.8 x 0.5 x 0.6m) in between four plants will help in soil and water conservation in gentle slopes. if slope is steep, construction of stone pitching walls at 10-20 m intervals across the slope and also making water collecting trenches along the wall will be helpful.
g. Forking and Mulching:
 

Forking the plant base to a distance up to 90 cm and to a depth of 9-12 cm is found to enhance root proliferation and better growth of plants. As far as possible, the entire plantation and particularly the plant base are to be kept under mulch. It is very essential to keep the plant base mulched (5-10 em thick) | except during June to September to reduce the ill-eHects of drought, for reducing evaporation loss and to maintain optimum temperature.
h. Trashing:
 
Trashing consists of removing old tillers and dry leaves and leaf sheaths. This operation may be carried out once in an year at any time one month after completion of the final harvest. These materials can also be used as much.
i. Earthing up:
 
This operation is not required in a normal plantation. However, due to erosion of soil or mismanagement, at times it is noticed that the top soil covering the plant base is washed away and the rhizomes and roots are exposed and in such situations, earthing up of the plant base with top soil is recommended during Dec. - Jan. While carrying out this operation, care should be exercised to ensure that only top soil is used, and it is evenly spread at the base covering only half the bulb portion of the rhizome. This operation helps to keep the top 10 to 15 cm soil loose and friable enabling easy root penetration and water percolation.
SOIL TEST
Spices Board has set up a soil testing laboratory for testing cardamom growing soils and giving fertilizer recommendation. At present, the soil testing laboratories are functioning at the Indian Cardamom Research Institute, Myladumpara, Kerala and at the Regional Research Station, Saklespur, Karnataka.
Why to test the soil? : Soil testing provides precise information about the fertility of the soil for making fertilizer recommendation . Needed quantities of fertilizers of the right kind can be applied at the minimum cost. Balanced application of nutrients will ensure a better economic return to the grower.
How to collect a soil sample?:
Only 5 to 10 g soil is used for each soil test. So care has to be taken to collect representative soil samples. Otherwise, precision in analysis and interpretation will have no value. While collecting the samples, the following points have to be taken note of:
1.
Sample should be collected from a field once in 3 to 4 years preferably during February-April.
2.
Total area should be divided into different slopes such as gentle, medium, steep and swampy area. Each category should be again divided into approximately plots of five acres and if there are certain pockets where plants are very poor in growth, those pockets should be sampled separately.
3.
Soil sample should be taken from root zone in the row, leaving 30 cm from the plant base.
4. The selected site should be cleaned from weeds, dry leaves and other mulch materials.
5.
With the help of a spade (mammatty) soil can be cut in an angle from both sides which will form a V shape pit at a depth of 15 cm and the cut soil should be removed.
6.
With the help of a knife, soil should be scraped from both the sides of V shaped pit in a thin layer along the cutting in full depth. Auger can also be used for soil sample collection.
7.

From each five acre plot around 10 samples may be collected diagonally and all these samples should be gathered into one in a big polythene sheet. Then mix it well, remove plant materials and spread the soil in a square shape in thin layer. Then make four quarters by drawing diagonal lines and discard any opposite two quarters and again mix the remaining two quarters. Do the same process until your sample become 500 g.
8.
The soil should be packed in polythene or cloth bag after shade drying for 1 to 2 days and tied properly. Planter's name and address and field number may be given in a small piece of paper and kept inside the bag. For each five acres of land one sample should be sent to the Research Station of Spices Board as soon as the soil is collected. Information proforma available with field offices of the Spices Board should be filled in and set along with the samples collected.
Precautions:

Avoid contamination by keeping soil samples away from stored fertilizer.
Avoid areas recently fertilized, old trenches, marshy spots, rfear trees, compost pits or other non-representative locations.
Avoid taking samples between rows.
FERTILISER RECOMMENDATION
Fertiliser use has become a regular operation in cardamom plantation However, this has to be carried out judiciously and with thorough knowledge. Indiscriminate application of chemical fertilisers will do more harm to the crop than applying no fertiliser at all. In addition, such an application will become a wasteful and expensive exercise. Hence it is absolutely essential that the planters follow a judicious fertiliser schedule to achieve satisfactory return and also reduce cost of cultivation. Whether fertiliser is applied or not organic manure is a must for cardamom crop.
Application of Organic Manures
Organic manures are considered essential in improving the physical characteristics of the soil, in addition to their nutrient value.
Application of organic manures such as Neem cake (@ 1 Kg/ plant) or Poultry manure/Farmyard manure/Cowdung Compost (@ 5 Kg/plant) may be made once in an year, during May/June along with mussoriephos (180 g/plant) and muriate of potash (90 g/piant). The manures should be thoroughly mixed with surtace soil after application. For the subsequent application to be rnade in September, organic manures need not be applied.
In valley area and in high fertile soils, soil application of chmical fertilisers may be avoided. Instead, one round of organic manures may be applied (during May/June) and NPK fertilisers given as foliar sprays as per schedule given elsewhere.
Schedule for the use of NPK fertilisers
a. Soil application
Age of plant Rainfed areas (Kglha)  

1 st year of planting
2 st year of planting
3 st year of planting

 Nitrogen . 25 Phosphorus. 25 Potassium. 50 (2 split application) Nitrogen . 40 Phosphorus - 40 Potassium. . 80 (2 split application) Nitrogen . 75 Phosphorus - 75
Potassium. 150 (2 split application)		 Irrigated areas
(Kg/ha)
Nitrogen - 25 Phosphorus. 25 Potassium - 50 (2 Split application)
Nitorgen . 60
Phosphorus - 60
Potassium - 80 (3 split applications)
Nitrogen - 125 Phosphorus. 125 Potassium. 250 (3 split application)
b. Foliar Application
Age of plants

1 st year of planting DAP
2nd year of planting OAP
MOP
3rd year of planting OAP
MOP

 Both rainfed & irrigated areas

2% (2 kg in 100 litres water)
(2 applications)
2°' +
70
1% (2 applications)
2% +
2% (3 appHcations)
c. Soil-cum-foliar application (For yielding plants only)
Rainfed areas Irrigated areas
Soil application (Kg/ha) Soil application (Kg/ha)
Nitrogen - 40
 Nitrogen - 80
Phosphorus - 40
 Phosphorus -80
Potassium - 80
 Potassium - 160
(Single application Le. May/June) (2 split applications Le. May/June & Sept./Oct.)
Foliar application Foliar application
DAP 2% + DAP 2% +
MOP
 2% MOP
 2%
DAP-Di-Ammonium Phosphate: MOP. Muriate of Potash;
Planters may choose anyone of the schedules given under a), b) and C).
However, they are advised to get their soil samples tested before making soil application of fertiiisers. The samples
may be sent to Indian Cardamom Research Institute, Myladumpara, Kailasanadu P.O. Idukki - 685 553.
Time & method of application
1. Time of aplication May/June, Sept./Oct., Dec.lJan. Aug/Sept. , Oct./Nov., Dec.lJan.
2. Method of application: Soil application &Foliar application
Soil application
After removing the mulches arrond the plant base, the fertilisers may be applied in a circular band of width 15 cm, leaving 30
cm from the plant base and thoroughly mixed with the top 5 to 7 cm of the surlace soil with handfork. The fertiliser applied
area may be covered again with mulches.
Foliar application

The spray solution, containing the fertilisers in the prescribed proportions. may be applied to the foliage of the plant covering
both sides of the leaves, using Handsprayer or knapsack sprayer. The application should not be made on a rainy day. A clear
sky or even a cloudy condition may be considered suitable for the application.

It may be noted that the number of split applications may be increased to more than 2 or 3 because smaller doses give better
results.
Lime/Dolomite application
The results of field experiments on the effect of lime/dolomite showed that application of lime/dolomite does not
have any significant effect on cardamom growth and yield. Moreover, correlation analysis of foliar nutrient content
with yield of cardamom indicated that enhanced uptake of Calcium and Magnesium beyond certain limit may cause
decline in the cardamom production.
On the basis of these findings, it is now considered that application of lime/dolomite is not necessary for cardamom.
Use of Micronutrients
Micronutrient survey conducted recently showed that Zinc deficiency is widespread in cardamom soils and Boron
deficiency is observed in certain areas. Application of Zinc to the foliage is found to enhance not only cardamom
growth and yield but also the quality of the produce. Hence it is recommended that Zinc, may be applied as a foliar
spray as Zinc Sulphate @ 250 gm/ 100 litres of water during Aprii/May and Sept/Oct. Approximately 1.5 kg Zinc
Sulphate will be needed for one application per hectare. Zinc should be applied ALONE and NOT mixed with any
insecticide/fungicide/fertiliser.
SOH application of Boron in the form of commercial grade Borax at the rate of 7.5 kg/ha is recommended in Boron
deficient areas. It may be applied in 2 doses along with NPK fertHisers. The survey results showed that Iron
and Copper are not deficient in soils. The results of a field experiment indicated that Boron may have antagonistic
effect over Zinc if applied together on cardamom. Based on these informations, it is considered not advisable to
use multi-micronutrient formulations for cardamom.
DISEASES AND THEIR MANAGEMENT NURSERY DISEASES
Incidence and spread of diseases often interfere with the successful raising of cardamom seedlings. The major
diseases observed in the nursery are leaf spots, damping off or seedling rots and leaf rots. Two types of leaf
spots occur in the nursery. These are:
1. Nursery leaf spot (Phyllosticta elettariae)
Leaf spot caused by the fungus Phyllosticta elettariae is a destructive disease especially in nurseries of Karnataka area.
In other areas it is a minor disease. It appears mostly during February - April months with the receipt of summer rains
Disease appears as small round or oval spots which are dull white in colour. These spots later become necrotic and
leave a hole (shot hole) in the centre. The spots may be surrounded by water soaked area. High intensity of disease
is noticed in open nurseries exposed to direct sunlight. In such cases, numerous spots develop on the leaves and
ultimately the leaves dry off and the young seedlings may perish. Young leaves are more susceptible to leaf spot
incidence. Seedlings develop tolerance as they grow old.
Disease Management
Prophylactic spraying with fungicides such as Difolatan or Foltaf (Captafol) 0.2% or with Dithane M-45 (Mancozeb) or Indofil M - 45, 0.3% may be given on the leaves. First spray is to be given during March-April depending on the receipt of summer showers and subsequent sprays a fortnightly intervals. Two to three rounds of spraying may be given. Clipping and destruction of severly affected leaves after spraying is to be done to arrest further spread to the remaing healthy leaves.
In addition to fungicidal sprays, the following supplementary measures also may be followed.
a. Sow the seeds in August-September, to ensure sufficient growth of seedlings, so that they may develop sufficient tolerance to the disease.
b.

Avoid exposure to direct sunlight from top or sides. Use coir mattings or agro shade or coconut fronds for shade. When jungle leaves are used for thatching, sloppy roofing may be provided.

c.

Do not raise the nursery continuously in the same site
2. Nursery leaf spot (Cercospora zingiberi)
In grown up seedlings of the secondary nursery, another type of leaf spot is of common occurence. Symptoms are yellowish to reddish brown coloured rectangular patches seen on the lamina. These will be almost parallel to the side veins. The mature lesions show a muddy red colour. Following heavy infection, the leaves dry off. The disease is caused by the fungus Cercospora zingiberi. The fungicides listed above can be used for controlling the disease.
3. Nursery leaf rot
This disease is seen in young seedlings of 3 to 4 months old. It is not wide spread in occurence; but seen only in a few nurseries. The symptoms are development of water soaked lesions on the leaves which later become necrotic patches leading to decay of affected areas. Usually the leaf tip and distal portions, are damaged. In severe cases rotting extends to petiole and leaf sheaths also. It is caused by fungi such as Fusarium sp. Alternaria sp. etc.
To control this disease avoid excessive watering of seedlings. Spray 0.3% Dithane M45 (Mancozeb) twice at 15 days interval after destroying the infected leaf portions.
3. Damping off or seedling rot
The disease appears usually in the germination nursery (primary nursery) during rainy season when there is excessive soil moisture due to improper drainage.
Leaves turn pale and their tips become yellow. Gradually, these symptoms spread over the entire leaf extending to leaf sheath resulting in wilting of seedlings. The collar portion decays and the entire seedlings die. Infection spreads in the nursery beds resulting in death of seedlings in small patches. In grown up seedlings, rotting extends from the collar region to the rhizomes resulting in their decay and ultimate death of the plant. The disease is caused by soil borne fungi such as Pythium vexans and Rhizoctonia solani. Fusarium oxysporum also causes similar seedling rot resulting in the wilting of the entire seedlings.
The disease can be managed as follows:
a. In the primary nursery,practise thin sowing for avoiding overcrowding of seedlings
b. Provide adequate drainage facilties
c. Remove affected seedlings early and maintain proper phytosanitary measures in the nursery.
d.
Fumigate the nursery beds by treating with formalin (formaldehyde 2% or 1 :50 dilution) for three days under polythene sheets at the rate of 15 litres per square meter at least 15 days prior to sowing.
e. When infection is noticed, drench the nursery beds with Copper oxychloride 0.3%.
4. Clump rot (Rhizome rot)
This disease occurs in mature seedlings (6 to 18 months old) of the secondary nursery. It is seen during the monsoon season when soil moisture is in excess due to improper drainage.
Early symptoms on leaves appear as pale yellow colour, partial rolling of leaf margins and withering of seedlings. Rotting or decay starts at the collar region and it spreads to rhizomes and roots. In severe cases, the collar region breaks off and the seedling collapses. The disease. is caused by the soil-borne fungi Pythium vexans and Rhizoctonia solani. Rotting of roots due to Fusarium sp. is also observed.
The following steps are recommended for managing the disease:
a. Uproot and destroy all the affected seedlings in a nursery.
b. Regulate irrigation of nursery beds. Do not use excess water for irrigation.
c. Remove mulch materials from nursery beds and rake the soil gently.
d. Drench the nursery beds with Copper oxychloride (COC)
(0.3%) at the rate of 3 to 5 litres per square meter.
DISEASES IN PLANTATION
1. 'Katte,' (Mosaic) Disease
The disease is prevalentin all cardamom growing areas in India. It is one of the major diseases of cardamom.
'Katte' disease affects plants of all ages. The first visible symptom appear on the youngest leaf of affected tillers as spindle shaped chlorotic flecks. Later, these flecks develop into slender discontinuous stripes of pale green and dark green areas, running parallel to the veins from the midrib of leaf margin. As the disease advances, subsequent leaves show charateristic mosaic symptoms. The leaf sheaths and pseudostems also show mosaic pattern. Mature leaves formed before infection do not develop symptoms. The infection is systemic in nature and gradually spreads to all tillers of affected plant. Immediately after infection, there is no growth reduction but within one to two years after infection, there is a gradual reduction in clump size. In advanced stages, the affected plants produce shorter and slender tillers with a few shorter panicles: 'Katte' affected paints do not die but the plants give only poor yield. The yield reduction has been found to be 70 per cent within three years after infection.
The disease is systemic and it is caused by cardamom mosaic virus. Viral particles are present in all parts of affected plants except in mature seeds. The disease is not transmitted through seeds or by mechanical means either by contact or through cutting tools. The disease is transmitted by insect vectors. The common banana aphid Pentalonia nigronervosa Coq. spreads katte disease from infected to healthy plants by feeding. Even a single aphid can pick up and transmit the virus within a few minutes without incubation period in the vector. All stages of the vector viz., the nymphs, winged and non-winged forms of adults can transmit the disease.

Man acts as the main carrier of the disease over long distances by unknowingly transporting the diseased materials for planting. Once the disease enters a plantation the spread is internal through the vector. Disease incubation period (time required for symptom expression) in the plant varies from 35 to 120 days in different months. Usually during summer, delayed appearance of symptoms is noticed. Vector population is high from December to May.

Management of 'Katte' disease
As long as katte inoculum is present in the field, any formulation of insecticides fails to prevent the disease spread. Diseased plants cannot be cured but the losses can be minimised by adopting the foilowing measures:
a. Keep a constant surveillance on the occurrence of katte disease.
b. Use only healthy seedlings raised from 'katte' free plants.
c. Avoid rhizome planting using materials taken from disease affected gardens.
d. Practice regular roguing (uproot and destroy).
e. Repeat tracing of affected plants and roguing at weekly intervals for at least 4 consecutive months
f. Replant the rogued areas with healthy disease free materials.
g. Destroy wild plants like Amomum, Alpinia, Curcuma, Colocasia etc. if they show symptoms of katte.
h. Do not raise nursery near katte affected areas.
2. Nilgiri necrosis disease
It is also another viral disease like 'katte'. It was recently observed in Nilgiri area and subsequently in Valparai in Anamalai, lower Pulneys and Munnar areas. As compared to 'katte' it is of limited occurrence. Diseased plants show alternate light green and whitish to yellowish streaks on the leaves in the form of mosaic. Later these stripes become necrotic with reddish brown colour followed by tearing of lamina. The leaves are crinkled with wavy margin. The reddish brown necrotic areas later dry aff. Tillers show reduction in height. In advanced stages of infection, severe stunting of plants is seen. Tillers are narrow, very short and they produce small leaves which are brittle. Panicles become shorter with few reduced capsules which often show symptoms of cracking. In extreme stages of disease no panicle is formed. The disease is caused by a rod shaped virus. Like 'katte' it is a systemic disease. Nilgiri necrosis is not transmitted through seed or mechanical means but the disease is easily carried through infected rtlizomes. So far, no insect vector is known
to transmit the disease. Plant sanitation by roguing of affected plants is the only method by which the disease can be controlled. The method adopted for "Katte" control can also be followed for managing Nilgiri necrosis disease.
3. Kokke kandu disease (Cardamom vein clearing)
Recently a new virai disease is found to be widely spreading in plantation of Karnataka state. In Kannada, it is called 'Kokke kandu' which means hooked tiller. It is first ooserved in Hongedehaila which is the hot spot area of this disease. Later, it spreaded to Sirsi and Somawarpet areas.
Diseased plants shows symptoms on the tillers and leaves, characteristic mottling develops on the foliage which later show severe vein clearing. Yellow stripes or steaks run parallei to the side veins. Leaves are arranged in a rosette manner at the tip of the tiller with much reduced internodes. The tiller height is also reduced. In advanced stages of infection, tillers are stunted and their tips form hook like structures and the younger most leaf roll gets hooked up in the leaf sheaths. Panicle length and number of capsules are much reduced. In extreme stages, no panicles and capsules are produced and
the yield loss is almost 100 per cent.

The disease spreads rapidly to nearby areas and the infected plants decline in a short period of one to two years. No seed
or sap transmission is noticed. The disease spreads easily through infected rhizomes as in the case of katte and NNV diseases.
The banana aphid Pentalonia nigronervosa is found to be its natural vector. It transmits disease in a non-persistant manner.
There is no incubation period in the vector. About 30 to 40 days are required for the infected plants to show the symptoms.
Sometimes combined transmission of 'katte' and 'kokke kandu' by the aphid is observed in the same plant. The disease is
caused by cardamom vein, clearing virus. As it is a systemic viral disease, infected plants can never be cured. Plant sanitation
is the only preventive measure. The methods recommended for katte control can be followed for management of 'kokke kandu'
disease also.
4. Azhukal or capsule rot disease
'Azhukal' disease is mostly prevalent in Idukki and Wynad districts of Kerala. In recent years, it has been noticed in isolated
pockets in Anamalai area also. Azhukal (rotting) is caused by the fungus Phytophthora nicotianae and P. meadii. The disease
starts with the onset of South-West monsoon in June and becomes severe during July-August months. It may continue to
prevail upto November-December, if weather is favourable for disease development.
Symptoms of rotting appear on all plant parts. First symptoms appear on the young leaves or on capsules in the form
of water soaked lesions. In leaves, these areas enlarge, become necrotic and gradually the leaves shrivel and begin to
shred. Finally, the affected leaves break at the base of the petiole and remain hanging. Rot affects capsules of all ages.
Affected immature capsules soon decay and fall off within 3 to 5 days and mature capsules get shrivelled on drying. Infection
on the panicle appears usually on panicle tip and proceeds downwards. Such portions later dry off or decay if moisture is in
excess. In severe cases, infection spreads over to the rhizomes and tillers also. Decayed tillers break and fall off at the collar
region. All the varieties are susceptible to the disease; however Malabar variety is more severely affected due to this disease.
The disease spreads through soil, water and wind.
The predisposing factors favouring 'azhukal' incidence are heavy and continuous rainfall, excess soil moisture, thick shade,
over crowding of plants and prevalance of inoculum in the soil. The disease can be managed by the following methods.
a) Phytosanitation
i) Trashing and cleaning the plant base are to be carried out during May before the onset of monsoon.
ii) Thick shade may be regulated by gentle lopping of tree branches.
iii) Provide drainage in low lying and marshy areas.
iv) Destroy the 'azhukal' affected portions and plant debris
b) Fungicidal applications
  After completing the above mentioned plant sanitation measures, the plants may be sprayed with anyone of the
following fungicides.
i) Bordeaux mixture 1 % or ii) Aliette 80 WP (0.3%) (300 gms / 100 litre water) or Akomin (0.4% - 4ml/litre of water).
  The first spray should be done during May - June before the onset of the monsoon and a subsequent spray may be
done during July-August. A third spary may be given in the month of September if the "monsoon is prolonged and
disease is still persistant. Spray Bordeaux mixture on the entire portion of the plants at the rate of 500 ml to one
litre per plant. Two to three litres of Bordeaux mixture drenching at the plant base is to be done in areas where
azhukal is severe. Alternatively drenching plant base with Copper Oxy Chloride (COC) (0.25%) was found to be
effective in reducing soil inoculum and further disease spread. For easy percolation to deep soil layers, COC
drenching is found to be superior to Bordeaux mixture drenching.
  The fungicide Aliette (0.3%) also can be sprayed on the leaves at the rate of 750 ml per plant. Soil drenching with
Aliette need not be given since it is a systemic fungicide.
5. Clump rot or rhizome rot
  It is also a fungal disease occuring during the monsoon seasons. Symptoms of disease are yellowing of leaves and decay
of tillers starting from the collar region. The decay extends to rhizomes and roots also. Rotten rhizomes become soft, dark
brown coloured and ultimately result in the total death of the piant. Affected tillers fall off by a slight disturbance. The
disease is caused by soil-borne fungi such as Pythium vexans, Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium sp. In
some cases, a pink colour develops at the collar yegion which later leads to rotting.
The disease can be managed by :
a) The plant base is to be drenched with two to three litres of coc (0.25%). Repeat coc drenching at 30 days intervals for 2 to 3 times depending on the severity and extent of disease spread.
b) Plant sanitation as described in the case of 'azhukal' disease has to be followed to control this disease.
General recommendations
1. Plant protection measures are to be carried out on priority basis.
2. Diseased areas should be taken first for trashing. and spraying with fungicides.
3. Spraying should be done to the diseased portions.
4. When the plants are wet during raining, foliar spray may not be effective. Practise soil drenching in such situations.
5. Top preference may be given for fungicidal sprays during non rainy days
Biocontrol of rot diseases.
Recent studies show that azhukal and rhizome rot can be controlled to some extent with the bio-agent Trichoderma. It is an
antagonistic soil fungus acting .against the rot pathogens. The fungus is grey in colour and grows abundantly on cowdung
and organic crop residues such as coffee husk, tea waste, coir compot, sorghum grains, wheat bran, rice bran etc.
Trichoderma viride or T. harzianum specific to cardamom can be mass multiplied on carrier media for 30 to 45 days. These
can be applied to plant basins at the rate of one kg per 100 kg of cowdung during May, August-September and October months
after phytosanitation. Usually one pre-monsoon during May and one post monsoon during (Sept.-October) are recommended.
While Trichoderma is applied in the soil no fungicide should be drenched in the soil. However Bordeaux mixture can be
sprayed before the application of Trichoderma. If the soil is drenched with COC or other fungicides, Trichoderma should
be applied only after 15 days. In severely diseased areas, first one or two rounds of fungicides can be applied. 15 days
after this, Trichoderma can be used. But never use fungicides and Trichoderma together.
MINOR DISEASES
1. Chenthal
  The disease is seen in almost all areas of cardamom cultivation. Initial symptoms appear as water soaked lesions on young leaves. Later these become yellowish to reddish brown with a pale yellow halo. In severe cases, it leads to the withering of leaves and withering of leaves and withering of psuedostems. The disease intensity is found to be severe in open areas where shade is inadequate. 'Chenthal' was earlier reported to be caused by Corynebacterium sp. However latest studies showed that it is not a bacterial disease. It is caused by a fungus called Colletotrichum gleosporioides.
  The intensjty of the disease can be reduced by providing adequate shade in the plantations. Fungicides such as Bavistin (0.2%), COC (0.3%) o} Cuman-L (0.2%) effectively control the disease. A mmimum of 2 rounds of spray at 30 days interval is required.
2. Leaf blotch
  It is caused by the fungus Phaeodactylum alpiniae. Symptoms develop as dark brown blotches on the leaves during monsoon season. Later, on the under side of these blotches, the fungal mycelium and spores develop as grey brown masses. The disease can be controlled by one to three rounds of spraying with Hinosan 0.3%, or Bordeaux mixture 1 % or Mancozeb (Dithane M-45) 0.3%.
3. Leaf spots and leaf rusts
  Various types of leaf spots are found to affect the leaves. These are Sphaceloma leaf spot caused by Sphaceloma cardamomi, Cercospora leaf spot caused by Cercospora zingiberi and leaf rust caused by Phakospora elettariae.
  The Sphaceloma leaf spot is seen in plantation as scattered spherical blotches on the leaves. These start as small spots measuring a few mm and later several spots coalese to form larger areas.
  The Cercospora leaf spots are found in the nursery and plantations in the form of rectangular muddy red stripes running along the veins.
  Leaf rust is often seen on mature ieaves as whitish powdery pustules on the under surface of the leaves with corresponding yellow necrotic patches on the upper surface. Diseased leaves show a rusty appearance.
  The leaf spots can be reduced to some extent by spraying with fungicides such as Dithane M-45 (0.25%) or Bavistin (0.2%). For leaf rust, fungicide Dithane M45 (Mancozeb) (0.3%) spray may be given at 15 day intervals.
4. Capsule canker and capsule brown spots
  Canker like symptoms on capsules were often observed as glacy dicoloured erruptions on the capsule rind. On curing, these spots turn greyish to dull white raised blisters on the capsule surface. The etiology is not yet known.
  Capsule brown spot also called as anthracnose disease is caused by the fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Disease symptoms appear as small round reddish brown lesions on the pericarp of the capsule. On maturation, these spots become soft reddish sunken areas. On cured capsules also the spots retain their red colour. The disease can be controlled by spraying with 0.2% Bavistin or 0.2% Dithane M - 45.
5. Leaf blight
  Leaf blight or drying of leaves in patches is observed during October to February months. In areas covered by severe fog the severity is more. Brown dry areas of varying sizes develop on the lamina. It is caused by Phytophthora meadii. It can be controlled by one or two rounds of spraying with 1 % Bordeaux mixture or 0.3% Aliette or 0.4% Akomin.
Preparation of Bordeaux mixture
Dissolve 1 kg of copper sulphate in 10 litres of water. In another vessel, slake 1 kg of quick.lime by adding small quantity of water preferably warm water. (One to 1.25 kg of lime can be taken if the lime is not of good quality). When slaking is over, add 5 litres of water and stir well to get a uniform suspension of lime. Transfer the lime suspension thus prepared through a sieve to a vessel containing 85 litres of water and stir well. A small quantity of lime solution may be kept separately. Add 10 litres of the copper sulphate solution to the 90 litres of lime solution with constant stirring. To test the correctness of the mixture, dip a brightened iron knife for a minute in the mixture. If the knife remains bright, the mixture is correctly prepared. If the knife turns rusty brown or if its brightness is lost, add more lime suspension. Correctly prepared Bordeaux mixture will turn red
litmus to blue and turmeric powder to orange red in colour.
Important points
1. For dissolving copper sulphate or Bordeaux mixture, use copper, wooden or earthenware or plastic pots or drums.
2. Use fresh quicklime
3. Bordeaux mixture should be passed through a sieve before transfering to the sprayers.
4. Spraying of Bordeaux mixture should be done on the same day of preparation.
PESTS AND THEIR MANAGEMENT
Small cardamom is susceptible to infestation by a number of pests, right from the seedling stage to the cured cardamom in storage. Among insect pests, thrips, shoot, panicle/capsule borer, white fly, hairy caterpillar and root grub cause heavy crop loss. Mites, nematodes, lace wing bug, shoot fly, cutworms, midrib caterpillar, etc., are of minor importance.
PESTS IN NURSERY
1. Shoot borer [Conogethes punctiferalis (Guen) ]
  Moth of the pest is bright yellow with a number of black dots on its wings. Its caterpillars are pale purplish in colour and bore into the shoots and feed on its core resulting in the death and decay of the central spindle. Such tillers develop characteristic dead heart symptoms. Presence of larva in the shoot is indicated by the appearance of excreted frass material at the mouth of the bore hole. The damage is noticed throughout the year, but is high during December to May.
The pest can be effectively controlled by spraying insecticides within 15-20 days after the appearance of moths (adults) in the nursery. Emergence of moths can be monitored by rearing some larvae on shoot bits in plastic containers or polythene bags. Monocrotophos or Fenthion 0.075% is effective against this pest.
2. Root grubs [Basilepta fulvicorne(Jacoby)]
  Damage is caused by the grubs of the insect. The grubs are small, 2 to 10 I)1m long, offwhite in colour and often assume a shape resemblihg 'C'. Grubs feed on cardamom roots in patches. This reduce the uptake of nutrients and leads to yellowing of leaves. Beetles are small greenish blue or blue or green and are found in large numbers during May to July and October to February. A female beetle lays 124-393 eggs in batches on dry grass, leaf sheath, mulch or dry cardamom leaves, during its life span of nearly 85 days. Grubs drop down and enter into the soil and start feeding on cardamom ,roots. Grub stage lasts for 45 to 60 days or 80 to 120 days depending on season Le., May to 'July or October to February respectively. They make earthern cells and become pupae inside the cell. Adults come out from these earthern cells as beetles.
  Beetles may be collected and destroyed during March-April and August-September. Early stages of the grub which are usually present in soil during May-June and September-October can be controlled by applying Phorate or Sevidol @ 30-40 gm. per clump. The granules may be spread upto 10 to 15 cm around the plant base and incorporated in the soil. Adequate moisture must be available in the soil at the time of application of Phorate/Sevidol. However, under poor soil moisture condition, if control is to be taken Chloropyriphos may be recommended for drenching with a warning that "Chloropyriphos 1s not registered for use in cardamom" and that this chemical should not come in contact with panicles while drenching.
3. Shoot fly (Formosina fIaviceps)
  The adult fly lays cigar-shaped white eggs in between the leaf sheath and pseudostem on the top whorl, either-singly or in rows of 4 to 6 eggs Maggots enter into the psuedostem by a minute hole made on unopened leaf bud and reach down the base of the tiller where they pupate. The maggots feed on the central core which later decays. The terminal unopened leaf wilts and dries off. Infestation is more on plants under inadequate shade. The pest activity starts during November and is at its peak in March-April. The life cycle is completed in 49-52 days.
  Removal and destruction of effected shoots at ground level combined with spraying of Dimethoate or Quinalphos or Methylparathion at 0.05%. or application of Carbofuran 3G @ 8-10 Kg a.i. per acre will control the pest. Adequate shade also must be provided.
4. Spotted red spider mite Spider mite at times assumes the status of a serious pest during summer. These mites spin web and colonise behind it on under surface of leaves. They suck plant sap from leaves. The infected portion of the leaf with its delicate silky threads, eggs and excreta look ashy white and dusty. The affected !eaves gradually dry up. These mites may also infest tillers and panicles. About15-20 days are required to complete its life cycle. Spraying dicofol @ 200 mV100 lit. water or Sulphur 80 WP 250 gm./100 L. or Dimethoate @ 167 ml/100 lit or Phosalone 200 ml/100 L on lower surface of leaves is effective against this pest. Spraying may be repeated 2 or 3 times at 15 days interval depending on severity of infestation. As a precaution, use of organochlorine insecticides and pyrethroids may be avoided in cardamom plantation. Excess use of nitrogenous fertilizers may be curbed.
5. Cutworm (Acrilasisa plagiata)
  Cutworms feed on leaves of seedlings. Infestation is noticed usually during January-March. The caterpillar is nocturnal in habit. It pupates in soil. Pupal period lasts for 17 days. Collection and destruction of caterpillar and pupae combined with spraying Monocrotophos in the evening hours at the base of the seedlings will control the pest.
6. Nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.)
  Root knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) are the most common nematode species associated with cardamom plantations. Common symptoms are necrosis of leaf tips and margins, narrowing of leaves, thickening of veins, reduction of internodal length and consequent appearance of leaves as rosette. Roots branch heavily and galls appear on them. Plant growth becomes highly stunted. Eggs, larva and adult are the different stages in the life cycle of the pest. Second stage larvae infect rootlets and induce formation of giant cells called galls. Larvae moult thrice and form adults. Adult male is filiform, while female is pyriform. Female secretes a gelatinous matrix into which eggs are extruded.
  Frequent change of nursery beds will help to reduce nematode infection in nurseries. In case of infection in primary nurseries, application of Carbofuran @ 80 gm. per 6 sq. metre bed and in secondary nurseries application of Carbofuran @ 200 gm. per 6 sq. metre bed will control the pest. In plantation, Carbofuran @ 60-80 gm. per plant or 20-40 gm. of Phorate with 300-500 gm of neem oil cake per plant may be applied. Application may be repeated after 3 months.
PESTS IN PLANTATIONS
1. Cardamom thrips [Sciothrips cardamomi (Ramk.)]
  Thrips are the most destructive and persistent pest of cardamom. They colonise and breed in different parts of the plant
such as unopened leaves, spindles, leaf sheaths, flower bracts, perianths and flower tubes. Adults and nymphs of the
insect cause damage to panicles, flowers and capsules. It lacerates the surface tissues with mandibles and sucks the
exuding plant sap by applying its mouth cone. Injury to panicles results in its stunted growth, that on flowers leads to
flower dropping and the injury produced on tender capsules develop as scabby growth on capsules as they mature.
Affected capsules appear malformed, shrivelled and sometime with gaping slits. Such capsules are inferior in aroma,
have less number of seeds, seeds are under developed and may not germinate. Thrips affected capsules fetch very
low price in the market. Thrips infestation results in nearly 47% crop loss.
  Adult insect is greyish brown, 1.25 to 1.5 mm long and with 2 pairs of fringed wings. Adults lay minute kidney-shaped
eggs which hatch out into nymphs in 12 days. Nymphs grow by feeding on plant sap and after passing through three
larval and a pupal stage become adults, thus completing their life cycle in 21 to 32 days. Population of the pest is
maximum in summer (February-May), minimal in rainy periods (June-July) and low in August-December.
  The following practices may be followed for controlling this pest:
 
1. Removal of collateral host plants of thrips, such as, Panicum longipes, Amomum sp., Aframomum sp., Colocasia sp., Alocasia sp., etc.
2. Remove dry drooping leaves, dry leaf sheaths, old panicles and other dry plant parts immediately before the commencement of first application of insecticide.
3. Apply anyone of the recommended insecticides at the speci fied time as given below:
  Insecticides recommended for Thrips control (SP/EC Formulations)
  Qty. (ml/g) of Insecticide per100
  81. Insecticide Strength (%)/L. water (high Volume sprayer)
  1. Quinalphos 0.025 / 100.0
2. Fenthion 0.05 / 62.5
3. Phosalone 0.07 / 200.0
4. Dimethoate 0.05 / 167.0
5. Acephate SP 0.075 / 100.0
6. Triazophos* 0.04 / 100.0
7. Monocrotophos* 0.025 / 70.0
8. Methylparathion* 0.05 / 100.0
  * .Insecticides under review by Govt. of India for banning their use.
4. During peak flowering periods,insecticide which is less toxic to honey bees (Phosalone) maybe sprayed.
5. If water scarcity is felt during summer months, any of the following dust formulations may be applied.
Dust Formulations
Chemical Methylparathion Quinalphos Phenthoate Phosalone
6. Recommended tentative schedule of insecticide application for Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka is given below.
  A) Kerala
  February March April
May August September Oct. to Nov.
  B) Tamil Nadu
  1. Dec to Jan.
2. Mar. to Apr.
3. May to June
4. August
5. October
  C) Karnataka
  1. January
2. March
3. May
4. Sept./Oct.
2.(a) Shoot/Panicle/Capsule borer [Conogethes punctiferalis (Guen.)]
Infestation of borers on shoot, panicle and capsule is a serious problem to cardamom growers of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.The pest is larva of the lapidopteran Conogethes punctiferalis syn Dichocrocis punctiferalis. Adult is a mediumsized yellow moth with a number of black dots on its wings and abdomen.
After a pre-oviposition period of 3-4 days the moths lay eggs mostly on leaves or leafaxils of young pseudostem. After an incubation period of 5-6 days, the eggs hatch. Emerging larvae bore into tender panicles or unopened leaf spindle or immature capsule. At a later stage the larvae bore into the shoots. They feed the central core of the pseudostem resulting in decaying of the central spindle and the characteristic dead heart symptom develops. When panicles and spikes are attacked, further production of flowers on them is stopped and the portion ahead of the site of entry dries off. In case of the capsules, the larvae feed on the seed and the capsules become empty. A fully grown larva is 15-25 mm long with pale purple body and black head. Larval period is completed within 28-36 days
with 5 larval instars. After a prepupal period of 2-4 days, it becomes pupa. After 11-15 days of pupal period, adult emerges out through the bore hole. The entire life cycle is completed within 41-51 days.
Pest infestation is pronounced in three season January to February, June and September to October. Late stages
of the larvae bore into pseudostem and remain there. Insecticide sprays at this time may not give adequate control
of the pest. For an effective management of the pest, the insecticide' has to be targetted on early stages of the larvae,
which are usually present within 15-20 days after adult emergence in the field. Either Monocrotophos or Fenthion
0.075% is effective against these larvae. Injection of the insecticide solution through the bore hole is the alternate
method for controlling larvae in pseudostems.
2. (b) Early capsule borer (Jamides alecto)
It is a serious pest of cardamom in Karnataka regions. Caterpillars of this insect bore and feed flower buds, flowers
and capsules. The attakced capsules are completely emptied leaving a circular hole on the capsule, which eventually
turn yellowish brown, decay and drop off in rainy season. The pest incidence is high during June to September.
Adult is a medium sized butterfly. Wings are bluish with metallic lustre on the upper surface. Larval period lasts for
18-20 days. Each larva feeds on 25-27 capsules to attain maturity. Pupation takes place in debris near the inflorescence.
The life cyc1e is completed within 38-45 days. Removal of old panicles at the last harvest and spraying Methylparathion
or Monocrotophos 0.05% will help to reduce pest damage.
3. Cardamom whitefly [Kanakarajiella Syn. Dialeurodes cardamomi]
Whitefly was considered as a minor pest in the early eighties. Of late infestation of the pest has become severe and
alarming in certain cardamom Qrowing tracts of Kerala. The adult is a small soft bodied insect about two mm long
and having two pairs of white wings. Adults are not active fliers, but can fly short distances. Female lays eggs which
are inserted into the leaf tissue. Eggs are cylindrical, pale yellow when freshly laid and gradually turn brown. There
are 4 nymphal stages. The first instar larva crawls on the leaf and finds out a feeding site. It becomes incapable of
further movement from that place and all the later stages are completed at that spot. The nymphs are elliptical and
pale green. The nymphs secrete a sticky honey dew which drops on to lower leaves. On these, black sooty mould
develops, which interrupts photosynthesis of the leaves. Puparia which adhere to the leaves after emergence of adults
appear as scaly patches on lower surface of affected leaves. The life cycle is completed within 2 to 3 week depending on
weather conditions.The files are attracted towards yellow colour. This behaviour can be exploited to trap the flies on yellow
sticky traps. Metal sheets painted yellow and coated with sticky materials such as, castor oil or polyvenyl butanol would
serve as sticky traps. By placing such yellow sticky traps between rows of cardamom plants, population of adults can be
monitored and trapped to some extent. Nymphs are effectively controlled by spraying on lower surface of leaves a mixture
of neem oil (500 ml) and Triton (500 ml) in 100 lit. of water. Acephate 0.075% and Triazophos 0.04% are equally effective.
This spray may be repeated 2 or 3 times at 15 days interval
4. Root grub [Basilepta fulvicorne]: (Refer Pests in Nursery)
5. Hairy caterpillars:
They are group of defoliators of cardamom-and are polyphagous. Eight species of hairy caterpillars have been found to damage
cardamom plants. More destructive among them are Eupterote undata, E. fabia, E. cardamomi, E. canairica, E. mollis and E.
blanda. They occur sporadically and congregate on trunks of shade trees. Moths emerge in June-July and lay about 300- 800
eggs on the under surface of leaves of shade trees. Eggs hatch in 15-25 days. larval stages extend upto three months and the
pupal period for nearly three months. When the northeastern monsoon ceases, caterpillars drop down to cardamom and start
feeding on its leaves. Larvae make cocoons within which they pupat larvae can be collected and destroyed. Since they
congregate on tree trunks, mechanical control is easy. If severe defoliation is noticed, spray Methylparathion 0.1 % or
Chlorpyriphos 0.06%.
6. Shoot fly [Formosina flavipes] (Refer Pests in nursery)
7. Lace wing bug [Stephanitis typicus]
It is a polyphagous pest, gregarious in habit. Nymphs and adults are found on lower surface of leaves. They suck the cell
sap from leaves, and later greyish yellow spots develop on leaves. In case of severe infestation, plant growth is retarded
and yield is adversely affected. Adult is a small dull coloured bug with transparent lace wings. A female lays about 30 eggs
which hatch in about 12 days. Nymphal period lasts for 13 days. Damage is very severe in summer months. Destruction of
alternate host plants like banana, Colocasia sp. and spraying of insecticides recommended for thrips control may be adopted
for its management.
8. Spotted Red spider mites: (Refer Pests in nursery)
9. Nematodes: . (Refer Pests in nursery)
BEE AND INSECTICIDE MANAGEMENT
Cardamom flower is bisexual. The most conspicuous feature of the flower is the large white labellum with violet streaks,
which attracts insect for pollination. The essential floral part-stigma is placed at a higher level by a slender style. Anther
is situated well below stigma. The flower thus represents a pin flower which is best adapted to cross pollination by an
insect pollinator. Flower opening in cardamom is maximum between 5 am and 7 am. Stigma receptivity and pollen
viability are maximum during morning hours.
The honey Apis cerana indica and Apis dorsata are the major pollinators of cardamom flowers. Fruit setting increases
significantly in bee pollinated flowers compared to flowers prevented from bee pollination. Bees start foraging in
morning hours and it is high between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m. During misty days the forage is delayed for an hour or two.
A bee usually visits all flowers in a clump and crawl over the anther and stigma. During this process it carries anther from one flower and a part of it gets deposited on the stigma of another flower. For effective pollination in cardamom,
four bee colonies per hectare are required. Since bees are highly sensitive to insecticides certain precautions may be
taken to prevent their destruction by insecticides.
1. Dust formulation which are more harmful to honey bees than , other formulations of insecticides shall be applied
only in times of acute water shortage.
2. Insecticide sprays shall be done in afternoon.
3. Insecticides less toxic to bees may be selected for spraying during peak flowering periods.
4. In the evening previous to the day of insecticide appUcation, bee hives may be closed and covered with wet gunny
bags after providing sufficient sugar solution and water in the hives. The hives may be opened on the next day morning.
HARVESTING AND CURING
Cardamom plants take about two years to bear capsules. Generally flowering starts in April-June with its peak during
Julyi August. Cool humid weather is necessary during flowering season for fruit set. It takes about three months for
fruit maturity. Harvesting of cardamom is the most important operation that requires special attention of growers.
Proper harvesting will improve the quality and quantity of the produce whereas faulty harvesting of immature capsules
reduces quality and realizes only lower price in the market. Hence judging the maturity of the capsule is very important
and some points to identify the maturity stage are:
1. Distinctly developed shoulders of the capsule.
2. Clear cut line in between two segment of the shell.
3. Triangular deep cut at the point of attachement
4. Loose attachment of capsule to the panicle.
5. Change of seed colour to brownish black or black
The following points should also be noted while harvesting.
1. Harvesting on rainly days will result in lower turn out
2. Pest affected capsules will give low turn out
3. Capsules from younger plants will have higher recovery percentage
4. Plants growing in swamps will give higher turn out
5. Turn out will increase with the progress of harvest up to December-January and there after declines.

Harvesting of capsules for the season should be started only at the right stage otherwise it will have impact on the entire crop harvest. There are two types of picking viz light picking and hard picking. When light picking is done, great care is to be exercised in harvesting only the green and mature capsules. This process will naturaily give a lower green crop per pick. When hard picking is done semi-mature capsules are also removed. This process reduces curing percentage. But it increases the picking average, reduces the chances of fruit drop and gives green coloured capsules upon curing. When a light picking is adopted, the gap between picking rounds can be maintained at 20 to 30 days, whereas in case of hard picking this can be maitained between 30 to 45 days. The choice of the picking depend s at times on the availability of labour also. Usually when the fourth round ends, dry weather conditions sets in. If windy condition exists, closer round will have to be adopted. If showers are available the gap between rounds can be extended to 40-50 days so as to allow the capsules to swell in size. Care may be taken to pick capsules only at a physiologically mature to fully ripened stage so as to allow proper development of seed and to obtain higher recovery. Over ripening of capsules should be avoided as it results in loss of capsules due to rodents and squirrels in the field and splitting at the time of curing, which results in lower market value. After harvest, washing the capsules with clean water and draining the water is essential to get good quality dried cardamom. Storing of harvested capsules is to be avoided.
CURING
Cardamom curing is a process in which the moisture of freshly harvested capsule is reduced from 80% to 10 to 12% at an optimum temperature of 50°C so as to retain green colour to the maximum extent.

There are mainly two types of drying viz. Natural (sun drying) and artificial drying by using fire wood (traditional flue pipe system), electrical current or solar (sun light). Except the traditional flue pipe wood based drying system, all the other methods are having major problems. Though fire wood based flue pipe system is a good system, small and marginal farmers who constitute nearly 70 per cent of cardamom growers face difficulties in possessing their own curing house due to economic constraints. They solely depend on large growers to get their fresh capsules cured by paying high drying charge.

The traditional fire wood based curing house consists of wood burning furnace, flue pipes and drying racks in a chamber. The furnace is made up of fine bricks or ordinary bricks having about 2.5 M x 0.6 M grate size to facilitate charging with big wood logs. The hot flue gases escapes through the chimney after circulating through 25-30 cm diameter flue pipes, made of mild steel sheets placed in the centre of the room. The racks containing harvested cardamom capsules are kept at 30-50 cm distance from flue pipe to avoid over heating. The roof of the curing chamber is insulated from inside with wooden planks or Nc sheets. The capacity of the curing house varies from 200 to 500 kg fresh capsules. Providing proper air vent and opening of exhaust vent periodically avoids accumulation of moisture inside the room and facilitates better green colour during drying. However this type of curing have very low thermal efficiency of 6-8%. Hence Indian Cardamom Research Institute (Spices Board) is evaluating alternative methods of cardamom drying using Kerosene or Liquid Petroleum gas as source of fuel and has achieved considerable rate of success. The cost of construction of drying house along with adoption of Kerosene or LP gas sytem works out to be Rs. 30,000 to 35,000 for 100 kg drying and drying cost
works out to be around Rs. 2 to 2.50 /kg fresh capsules.
After drying the cardamom, polishing is done by rubbing against hard surface or using polishing machine. Later the dried cardamom is to be stored in gunny bags. For efficient retention of green colour of cardamom during storage, it is essential that cardamom should be dried down to a moisture content of 10 to 12%. Use of 300 guage black polythene lined gunny bags improves the storage efficiency. It is better to keep these bags in wooden boxes, which prevent damage of capsule by rodents. In order to get prime price in the market, grading of capsules by sieving under different diameter sieves is to be done. The cardamom with good green colour and above 7 mm will fetch the highest price in the market.
A few tips to improve the quality of cured cardamom are:
1. Dry cardamom immediately after harvest to retain the original colour at which they are harvested.
2. Maintain temperature inside the room between 40° and 50°C in the first 10 to 12 hours, then increase to 55°C for rest of the curing period.
3. Provide proper openings for expelling the moisture from the room while curing, which is essential to retain good green colour during drying.
4. Avoid raising of temperature above 65°C inside the room in order to reduce splitting of capsules and loss of vital volatile cardamom oil.
5. Polish the cured capsules when they are hot.
6. Use black polythene lined gunny bags for packing cured cardamom and store them in wooden boxes for better storage efficiency.
 
   
 
 
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