Professional Documents
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Spices Board Ministry of Commerce & Industry Government of India Cochin 682 025
Cultivation Practices for Cardamom <<< Table 1: High yielding varieties and selections
No. Selection/ Varieties
ICRI - 1
Area of adaptability
Source
South Idukki zone of Kerala, where the rainfall is well distributed Vandanmedu and Nelliampathy of Kerala and Anamalai and Meghamalai of Tami Nadu Cardamom growing tract of Karnataka
ICRI -2
Mysore
766
ICRI -3
Malabar
ICRI 4 (TDK-4)
Malabar
ICRI 5
Malabar
ICRI 6
Malabar
PV -1
Malabar
Hybrid variety, early bearing, High yield, high oil content deep green a bold capsule, moderately talent to rot disease Regular yielder, high oil content, deep green long bold capsule, moderately tolerant to rot pathogens trips, borer and drought. An early maturing variety with slightly ribbed light green capsules. Short panicle, close racemes, narrowly ellipsoid to elongate capsules
Adapted to Lowar Pulney hills of Tamil Nadu. Suitable for low rainfall area (1500 mm) and having similar agroecological conditions. Kerala and parts of Tamil Nadu
Regional Station, ICRI (Spices Board) Saklespur Karnataka Regional Station ICRI (Spice Board) Thadiankudise) Tamil Nadu 624 212
600
460
2000
1900
500
Area of adaptability
Source
Vazhukka High yielder, deep green long bold capsule, high dry recovery percent. 9 Mudigere -1 Malabar Compact plant, suitable for high density planting. Tolerant to hairy caterpillars and white grubs. Short panicle, oval bold, pale green capsules. Tolerant to thrips and shoot borer pubescent leaves 10 Mudigere Malabar Suited for cultivation in 2 valleys in Karnataka 11 IISR, Suvasini (CCS-1) Malabar An early maturing variety suitable for high density planting long panicle, oblong bold, parrot green capsules
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Malabar
Resistant to rhizome rot disease, Suited for hot spots of rhizome rot and leaf bilght diseases. High quality elongated capsules Tolerant to Katte disease
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Malabar
CRS Pambadumpara Idukki In the traditional Regional Res. cardamom Station, growing University Malanad of Agri. areas of Sciences Karnataka Mudigere, Karnataka 577 132 Suited for Regional Res. Karnataka Station, UAS, (Valley areas) Mudigere All Cardamom India Institute growing tracts of Spice of Karnataka Research, and Wynad Regional of Kerala Centre (ICAR) Appangala 571 201 Karnataka Kodagu, North IISR Wayanad, Cardamom Hassan and Research Chikmagalur Centre, Appangala Karnataka Kodagu, North IISSR Wayanad, Hassan Cardamom and Chikmagalur Research Center, Appangala Karnataka
Kerala
850
650
Vegetative (sucker) propagation Vegetative multiplication ensures true to type plantlets from high yielding mother plants. Plants raised from rhizome show uniformity in growth and come to bearing earlier than the seedling-raised plants. However, sucker propagation carries the risk of viral disease spread and hence this method may be best avoided in the viral disease hot spots of cardamom tract.
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Zinc (Zinc sulphate) shall be applied as foliar spray @ 250 g /100 litres twice a year. Under high production technology, where crop is harvested from 18 months onwards, fertilizer recommendation for full-grown plantation could be adopted from the second year onwards. Fertilisers would be applied in smaller doses in four or more splits after every harvest or combining both soil and foliar application of fertilsers. Whenever, the plant growth is affected due to root damage (root grub/fusarium disease/soil compactness), foliar application of DAP (two per cent) + MOP (two per cent ) could be adopted. Restrain fertilizer application on disease infected plants. Time and Method of application. i) Time of application: Soil application - May/June September/October December/January - August/September October/November December/January
Foliar application
ii) Method of application: Soil application After removing the mulches around the plant base, the fertilizers may be applied in a circular band of width 15 cm, leaving 30 cm from the plant base and thoroughly mixed with the top five to seven cm of the surface soil with hand fork. The fertilizer-applied area may be covered again with mulches. Foliar application The spray solution, containing the fertilizer in the prescribed proportions, may be applied to the foliage of the plant covering both sides of the leaves. The plant should have sufficient turgidity at the time of foliar application lest it would wilt. A clear sky or even a cloudy condition may be considered suitable for undertaking foliar application. Avoid very dry/hot periods or noon hours for foliar spraying.
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These operations clear the dried parts of plants and facilitate spray fluid falling on panicles and young shoots. Trap crop Shoot borer larva prefers to feed on castor capsules than on cardamom; if castor is grown on open area /boundary, borer may infest castor inflorescence/ capsule and they may be destroyed by crushing castor capsules infested with shoot borer larva. Biological control If fresh borer is seen on the tiller, inject Bacillus thuringiensis (@2 ml/l water) 5-10 ml through borehole. Behavioral control The early capsule borer Jamides alecto can be managed by clipping the inflorescence/flower parts of alternate hosts viz., Alpinia speciosa, Alpinia mutica, Amomum ghaticum, Amomum pterocarpum, Curcuma heilyherrensis, Hedydium ceranarium during offseason (December to May). Chemical control For Kerala Rain fed First spray (February 1st week) Quinalphos (OR) Phenthoate @ 200 ml (or) 150ml /100 liters of water. Irrigated First spray (February 1st week) Quinalphos (OR) Phenthoate @ 200 ml (or) 150ml /100 liters water. Second spray (March 1st week)
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For Tamil Nadu rainfed conditions (Lower Pulneys) Chemical control (Tentative schedule) First spray (December-January) Monocrotophos @200 ml (OR) Quinalphos @200 ml in 100 liters. of water. Second spray (March-April) Chlorpyriphos @200 ml in 100 liters of water. Third spray (May-June) Profenofos @ 150ml in 100 liters.of water. Fourth spray (August) Quinalphos @ 200ml (OR) Monocrotophos@ 200ml in 100 liters of water. Fifth spray (October) Methyl parathion@ 100ml in 100 liters of water.
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5. 6.
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By integrating all the plant protection techniques with the timely and required plant protection measures, the pest problem in cardamom could be reduced economically to a great extent and also the natural enemy/ honey bee population could be conserved / augmented. 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: Primary 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 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 center. 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 are more susceptible to leaf spot incidence. Seedlings develop tolerance as they grow old. Disease Management Prophylactic spraying with fungicides such as Indofil M 45 0.2 per cent 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 at fortnightly intervals. Two to three rounds of spraying may be given. Clipping and destruction of severely affected leaves after spraying is to be done to arrest further spread to the remaining healthy leaves. In addition to fungicidal sprays, the following supplementary measures also may be followed.
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c)
Secondary nursery leaf spot (Cercospora zingiberi) In grown up seedlings of the secondary nursery, another type of leaf spot is of common occurrence. 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. The fungus Cercospora zingiberi causes the disease. Spraying of Indofil M 45 0.2 per cent can effectively control the disease. Nursery leaf rot This disease is seen in young seedlings of three to four months old. It is not wide spread in occurrence; 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 0.2 per cent Indofil M-45, twice at 15 days interval after destroying the infected leaf portions. Damping off or seedling rot The disease appears usually in the nursery where seeds germinate (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 form 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
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e) f) g)
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 excess due to improper drainage. Early symptoms on leaves appear as pale yellow colour, partial 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 collapse. 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) b) c) Uproot and destroy all the affected seedlings in a nursery. Regulate irrigation of nursery beds. Do not use excess water for irrigation. Remove mulch materials for nursery beds and rake the soil gently.
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Nilgiri necrosis disease It is a 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 off. Tillers show reduction in height. In advanced stages of infection, severe stunting of plants is seen. Tillers are narrow, panicles become shorter with few reduced capsules which often show symptoms of cracking. In extreme stage of disease no panicle is formed. Nilgiri necrosis is not transmitted through seed or mechanical means but the disease is easily carried through infected rhizomes. So far, no insect vector is known to transmit the disease. The method adopted for Katte control can also be followed for managing Nilgiri necrosis disease. Kokke kandu disease (Cardamom vein clearing) Recently a new viral 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 observed in Hongedehalla which is the hot spot area of this disease. Later it spread to Sirsi and Somawarpet areas.
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b) Fungicidal applications After completing the above mentioned plant sanitation measures, the plants may be sprayed with one of the following fungicides. i) Bordeaux mixture one per cent or ii) Aliette 80WP (0.2 per cent or 200 grams/100 liters of water) (Potassium Phosphonate) (0.5% - 5ml/liter of water). The first spray should be done during May-June before the onset of monsoon and subsequent spray may be done during July-August. A third spray may be given in the month of September if the monsoon is prolonged and disease is still persistent. Spray Bordeaux mixture on the entire portion of the plant at the rate 500 ml to one liter per plant. Drenching plant base with Copper Oxy Chloride (COC) (0.2 per cent) was found effective in reducing soil inoculum and further disease spread The fungicide Aliette (0.2 per cent) also can be sprayed on the leaves at the rate of 500-750 ml per plant. Clump rot or rhizome rot It is also a fungal disease occurring during the monsoon seasons. Symptoms of disease are yellowing of leaves and decay of tillers starting form the collar region. The decay extends to the rhizomes and roots also. Rotten rhizomes become soft, dark brown coloured and ultimately result in the total death of the plant. 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 a few cases). In some cases, a pink colour develops at the collar region which later leads to rotting.
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Bio-control of rot diseases 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 has green colour and grows abundantly on cowdung and organic crop residues such as coffee husk, tea waste, coir compost, sorghum grains, wheat bran, rice bran etc. Trichoderma viride or T. harzianum specific to cardamom can be mass multiplied on carrier media and 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 (September - 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. Avoid mixing copper fungicides with Trichoderma. MINOR DISEASES Chenthal The disease is seen in almost all areas of cardamom cultivation. Initial symptoms appear as water soaked lesion on young leaves. Later these become yellowish to reddish brown with a pale yellow hallo. In severe cases, it leads to the withering of leaves and withering of psuedostems. The disease intensity is found to be severe in open areas where shade in inadequate. Chenthal was 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 Colleotrichum gloeosporioides.
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Precautions