Plantation

Plantation establishment and management

Large cardamom is generally grown in forest loamy soils having soil depth of few centimetres to several inches. Colour of large cardamom soil ranges from brownish yellow to very dark greyish brown. Texture varies from sandy, sandy loam, silty loam to clay. In general, large cardamom soils are acidic in nature and majority of soils have pH ranges from 5.0 to 5.5 and more than 1% organic carbon content. Onan average, these soils have high available Nitrogen and medium Phosphorous and Potassium. Because of steepness of the terrain, chance of water logging is less, and water logged conditions are not suitable forth plants and adequate drainage is quite essential for the better stand of the crop. The ideal time for planting large cardamom in Sikkim & Darjeeling is May to July, preferably during June - July when the intensity of South West Monsoon is low. By this time, the planting materials i.e., mature tillers with 1-2 immature tillers / vegetative buds become ready. Due to appearance of new leaves in the mother clump during this period, symptoms of Chirke disease, viral in nature, becomes prominent which helps not to collect such plants as planting materials.

Selection of site

Large cardamom grows well in forest loamy soils with gentle to medium slopes. Luxuriant growth is observed nearby perennial water sources. However, water logged condition is detrimental to the plants. Itis noticed that heavy shade or less shade hinders crop growth and production. Utis ( Alnus nepalensis) is the most common shade tree and Utis – cardamom is a very good Agro-forestry system for sustainable production in the region. The other species of shade trees that are commonly used by most of the farmers are Panisaj (Termalia myriocarpa), Pipli ( Bucklandiasp.), Malito ( Macaranga denticulate), Argeli ( Edgeworthes gardneri), Asare (Viburnus eruberens), Bilaune ( Maesa Cheria), Kharane (Symplocos sp.),Siris ( Albizzia Lebbeck ), Faledo ( Erythrina indica), Jhingani ( Eurja tapanica), Chillowne (Schimawallichi) etc (Gupta et al, 2012).

Land Preparation

 Most of the tribal farmers living in remote places are following traditional methods for land preparation. Pits are prepared without appropriate spacing from the centre of the pits. Pits are left open for weathering for a fortnight and then filled with topsoil mixed with cow dung compost / FYM @ 1 –  3 kg per pit. Pit making and filling operation are completed in the third week of May before the onset of pre-monsoon showers.

Planting

Planting is done in June –  July when there is enough moisture in the soil. A mature tiller with 2 – 3immature tillers / vegetative buds is used as planting unit. Suckers / seedlings are planted by scooping a little soil from the centre of the pits and planted up to collar zone. They do not follow staking which is very important to avoid lodging from heavy rain and wind. Mulching is done at the plant base using dried organic matter, leaves, weeds etc. Mulch improves the soil condition and the soil fertility.

Application of manure

Application of manuring is done by well decomposed cattle manure once in year. Most of the farmers recycled all the crop residues in the plantation and FYM / organic materials etc are applied as and when required.

Irrigation

In most of the traditional plantations, farmers only depend on rainwater for irrigation.

Weed control

Weeding is generally done by using a traditional knife known as

“sickle” or by hand depending upon the intensity of weed growth. From around the plant base weeds are pulled out by hand and in inter-space needs only slash with sickle. While weeding dried shoots and other thrashed materials are used as mulch around the plant base.

Indigenous plant protection practices

Among the insect pests that attack large cardamom, leaf caterpillar (

 Artona chorista Jordon) and stem borer (Glyphipterixsp.) are considered as important pests of the crop. The fungal diseases, particularly the

Colletotrichum blight and viral diseases Chirke and Foorkey are major threat to this crop. The farmers in this region have been following indigenous pest and diseases management practices. The diseased plants are uprooted and destroyed as and when they are seen. Some farmers also used to take disease infected plant to an isolated place, chopped into small pieces and buried in pits for quick decomposition.Traditional pest management practice was followed by the farmers in large cardamom. It is adopted to manage house hold pest also. Ash and leaf extract are commonly used to manage pest

Harvesting and curing

The indication of time of harvest is when the seeds of top most capsules turn brown. As soon as the said colour appears and to enhance maturity bearing tillers are cut at a height of 30 –  40 cm from ground and left for another 10 – 15 days for full maturity. The spikes are harvested by using traditional knives known as “ Elaichi chhuri” by the farmers of these regions. The harvested spikes are heaped and capsules separated and dried. The cured capsules are rubbed on wire mesh for cleaning and removal of calyx (tail).Traditionally cardamom is cured in Bhatti, where capsules are dried by direct heating. Under this system the cardamom comes in direct contact with smoke which turns the capsules to dark brown or black with smoky smell.

Packing and storage

The dried capsules are allowed to cool and then packed in polythene lined jute bags. Most of the farmers in Sikkim and Darjeeling stored the bags on wooden platform away from sidewall to avoid absorption of moisture and thereby to avoid fungal growth on the stored produce.

Gender roles in large cardamom cultivation

Man and women do almost all works from land preparation to capsule storage. However, their role depend more on the family situation than on gender or ethnicity. In a family with more male members, male works in the fields, whereas in families with fewer men, women work equally with men. Both men and women actively participated in land preparation and pit formation. Planting, manure application is done by both men and women. Mulching is done mostly by men, although women help as when required. Weeding is done mostly by women. Harvesting is done by men and plucking of capsules from spike is mostly done by women and children. Curing in Bhatti is done by men and removal of tail (calyx) from dried capsule is done by women and children, although men help as when required.

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