It is referred as “Queen of Spices” and it is mainly called as “Ilaichi” or “Elaichi”. It is a tall perennial plant which belongs to the family of Zingiberaceae. The major cardamom growing states are Kerala, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. Because of its property of having good aroma and flavor, it is one of the most expensive spices in the world. The world’s biggest cardamom producing country is India. The dried mature fruit is an edible part and is known as capsule. Cardamom is mainly used for making cakes, bread, flavouring coffee and confectionary and other culinary purposes. It also have health benefits such as it helps to relieve acidity, improves digestion, helps in lowering blood pressure and for preventing blood clots.

Cardamom grows well in soil which is rich in organic matter. The ideal soil for sowing cardamom is loamy soil which is rich in humus. The ideal soil pH ranges from 4.5-7.

CCS 1: It gives an average yield of 170qtl/acre. The seeds contain 8.7% oil content.

PV 1: Released by Karnataka Agricultural University, Pampadumpara. It gives an average yield of 108qtl/acre and the seeds contain 6.8% oil content.

Mudugiri 1: Released by UAS, Bangalore. It gives an average yield of 114qtl/acre and the seeds contain 6.8% oil content.

Mudugiri 2: Released by UAS, Bangalore. It gives an average yield of 198qtl/acre and the seeds contain 8% oil content.

ICRI 1: It gives an average yield of 135qtl/acre and the seeds contain 8% oil content.

ICRI 2: It gives an average yield of 156qtl/acre and the seeds contain 9% oil content.

ICRI 3: It gives an average yield of 182qtl/acre and the seeds contain 6.6% oil content.

ICRI 4: It gives an average yield of 189qtl/acre and the seeds contain 6.4% oil content.
 

Before planting cardamom pruning of trees is done which helps to reach sunlight directly to land. Then pits are dug with dimensions having 45 X 45 X 30cm in April to May month and filled the pits with mixture of top soil and well rotten FYM or any compost.

Time of sowing:
The optimum time for sowing cardamom is June-July month.

Spacing:
Use plant to plant spacing of 3m.

Sowing depth:
Sowing depth of 1.5-3 cm is optimum for sowing.

Method of sowing:
Transplanting method is used.
 

Seed rate:
Use seed rate of 270 seeds for per acre land.

Seed treatment:
Before sowing treat the seeds with HCl and H₂SO₄ for 20 minutes.
 

Nutrient Requirement (kg/acre)

Fertilizer Requirement (kg/acre)

In rainfed areas, application of fertilizer dose of nitrogen@14kg/acre in the form of urea@31kg/acre, phosphorus@5kg/acre in the form of DAP@31kg/acre and potash@37kg/acre in the form of MOP@62kg/acre should be done. In irrigated areas, application of fertilizer dose of nitrogen@5kg/acre in the form of urea@12kg/acre, phosphorus@4kg/acre in the form of DAP@25kg/acre and potash@7kg/acre in the form of MOP@12kg/acre should be done.

By giving irrigation in summer season, it will help to increase yield upto 50%. Irrigation is mainly required from February to April month, but sometimes irrigation is required from January to May. Mainly after the interval of 15 days, irrigation is required @35-45mm and through drip irrigation @4-6ltr/square inch/day should be given.

2-3 weedings are required to control weed control. Paraquat@250ml in 150ml water is applied around the fields in the rows to protect field from weed control.

• Pest and their control:
  

Sucking pest: It harms the plant by sucking juice of the stem, leaves and flowers. It decreases its aroma, seeds number and germination capacity. The pest number is found more in mid-April.

Treatment: Application of Quinalphos@400ml or Dimethoate@300ml or Methyl Parathion@400ml is done to get rid of this pest.
 

Romil Caterpillar: This is the second most important pest which harms the cardamom crop. The outbreak of this pest is mainly found in October to December month.

Treatment: Spraying with quinalphos@400ml is done to get rid from this pest.
 

Stem fly: It destroys the new growing stem. The attack of this pest starts in November month and ends in March-April month.

Treatment: Spraying of Quinalphos@400ml or Methyl Parathion@400ml or Dimethoate@400ml or broadcasting with Carbofuran 3G@8-10kg/acre should be done.
 

Root borer: This pest laid eggs on the roots which are coming outside from the roots. The symptoms are drying of roots and the plants starts weaken.

Treatment: Broadcasting with Methyl Parathion@10kg on roots and land.
 

White fly: Its attack is mainly seen in dry months. It decreases the shelf life of plant.

Treatment: Spraying of Methyl demeton@200ml or Dimethoate@400ml should be done on leaves.

Aphids: It sucks the juice of the plants.

Treatment: Spraying of Dimethoate@400ml is done to get rid of aphids.
 

Mites: Attack of mites is mainly seen in November to April month.

Treatment: Spraying of Omite@200ml in 1ltr water is done to get rid of this pest.
 

• Disease and their control:

Leaf spot: The attack is seen mainly in February to April. In starting of this disease, spots are seen on the leaves. The spots increase in the monsoon season. In dry season, these spots turn light brown in color. 

Treatment: Spraying of M-45@400gm is done in March-April month and then at the interval of 15 days in monsoon season.

 

Rhizome rot: Mainly this disease is spread where moisture content is excess and inadequate water availability. During disease, leaves turn light in color.

Treatment: Treatment with Dithane M-45@400gm should be done to get rid of this disease.

Plants start bearing fruits in the second or third year of plantation. Normally 5-6 harvestings are done at the interval of 15-25 days. Harvesting is mainly done in October-November month. It gives an average yield of 41-62kg/acre.
 

After harvesting, cardamom is sun or machine dried. After drying soak the cardamom capsule in washing soda solution@2% for 10 minutes. In dry season cardamom are dried in 45-50^oC temperature for 14-18 hours. For drying cardamom are placed on thin layer and during this time, to dry the cardamom it is turned upside down after some time.. Dried cardamom are rubbed by placing them on coconut sheet. After drying sorting is done depending upon size and color. Then they are packed in gunny bags.