Introduction
Cadramom (Elettaria cardmomum)
Family Zingiberaceae
 

   

Cardamom popularly called the “Queen of Spices”, is the dried fruit of Elettaria cardmomum, a perennial herbaceous plant which thick, irregular shaped rhizomes belong to the Zingerberaceae or Ginger family. The plant produce large number of leafy vegetative stems which grow to about 3 m height with numerous alternate leaves having spear-like laminas and sheathings bases. The dark green laminas are up to 90 cm long and 25 cm broad. The inflorescence is a panicle which arises from the rhizome at the base of each pseudostem and may be 1m or more in length. Ti either spread horizonlaly on the ground or stands erect or semi erect according to the variety.

The major cardamom producing countries are India, Guatemala and Tanzania in addition to Sri Lanka. In Sri Lanka it is cultivated in Kandy, Mathale, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and Rathnapura Districts.


Cultivation

Agronomic Requirements for cultivation

Cardamom normally requires a cool climate and as such can be successfully cultivated at elevations over 600m. It is also requires well distributed rainfall of 1,500 – 2,500mm. Since the crop requires shade, the majority of the cardamom plantations are under forest cover. The roots of cardamom are present near the soil surface and grows well in well drained soils which have good organic matter content. Waterlogged soils are unsatisfactory. A temperature range of 100C – 250C favours growth and production of cardamom
Field Planting and Spacing
Cardamom can be propergated both through suckers and seedlings. A spacing of 2 m x 2.5 m may be given on level lands.

Manuring

The following fertilizer mixture and rates are currently recommended.

 

Application rates of mixture/plant/year in grams

 

Harvesting and Processing
Quality Requirement