Question: query about planting of cardamon.
Answer: soil: deep black loam soil with high humus content found in the forest region is best suited for cultivation. it also grows on laterite soils, clay loams, and rich black soils having good drainage. sandy soil is not suitable.
nursery: cardamom is propagated mainly through seeds and also through suckers each consisting of at least one old and a young aerial shoot. seedlings are normally raised in primary and secondary nurseries. raised beds are prepared after digging the land to a depth of 30-45cm.
manure in nursery: manuring at the rate urea-200g, ssp-375g, and mop(k2o)- 200g per bed of 5x1m size, in three equal split doses at an interval of 45 days is recommended to produce healthier seedlings. the first dose of fertilizer may be applied 30 days after transplanting in the secondary nursery.
fertilizer doses: urea- 22kg, ssp- 62kg and mop-33kg. fertilizer is applied in two split doses. the first application during may will help in the production of suckers and the development of capsules and the second application during late september will help the initiation of panicles and sucker. only half the dose of fertilizer is to be applied during the first year and the full dose is given from the second year onwards. application of fertilizer is done at a radius of 30cm and covered with a thin layer of soil.