This document summarizes information about cloves, including their origin in Indonesia, major producing countries, and uses. Cloves are a medium-sized tree that is grown commercially in Sri Lanka. They thrive in tropical climates with ample rainfall and temperature between 20-30 degrees Celsius. Cloves are propagated through seeds and grown at a spacing of 20 feet by 20 feet. They are harvested when flower petals change color, yielding about 250 kg/ha on average. Buds are dried and can be stored for 1-2 years. Sri Lanka has standards for moisture content and purity levels for graded cloves.

1. Clove
Eugenia caryophyllus
Family : Myrtaceae

2. Introduction
• Medium sized, symmetrically shaped tree with
smooth grey bark
• Originated in Maluku Islands in Indonesia
• Arab traders or Colonial rulers may have brought
the plant to the country
• First planted in Royal botanical garden, Peradeniya
• Fully grown trees are usually 15-20 m tall

3. Major producers
• Tanzania
• Indonesia
• India
• Sri Lanka
• Brazil
• Madagascar

4. Uses
• As dried whole buds
• Ground clove is used for curry mixtures
• Clove oil is used for
– flavoring foods
– Pharmaceutical &
– perfumery industries
• Whole or ground cloves provide flavor for both
– sweet and savory foods in pickling
– sauces and ketchups

5. Major growing areas
• Mid Country wet zone
– total extent of clove is 7618 ha.
• Kandy
• Kegalle
• Matale districts

6. Varieties
• No specific varieties have been identified.
• There are trees produce bigger size clove buds
which are called “Bothal Karabu”.

7. Climate
• Grown well in humid tropical climate
• Elevation - from sea level up to 1000 m
• Annual rainfall of 1750 – 2500 mm
• Annual average temperature should be 20 – 30 oC
without much seasonal and diurnal variation.
• Persistent strong winds are harmful.
• Shade is essential during the first two or three years
of growth.
• Thereafter, full exposure to light is beneficial

8. Soil
• Thrives in a variety of soils
• Deep loamy soil, rich in humus content are best
suited
• Grows satisfactorily on laterite soils
• Pure sandy soils are unsuitable
• Does not tolerate water logging
• Land should be well drained

9. Crop Establishment
Planting material
• Propagated through seeds
• Tree ripe fruits should be sown immediately
– viability of seeds is rapidly lost within 48 hours of
collection.
• Perforated polythene bags
– Size 10 cm Χ 20 cm or 25 cm Χ 40 cm
– Potting mixture (1:1:1) well decomposed FYM*,
top soil and coarse sand.
FYM* - farm yard manure

10. Seedlings aged 15-20 months establish better in
the field

11. • Spacing - 20’x 20’
• Planting holes: 80 cm x 80 cm x 80 cm
• Plant density - 250 plants/ha
• Temporary shade for 2-3 years is necessary.
• Cover crops such as leguminous spp - as a soil
conservation measure

12. Crop management
Fertilizer application
Components of the
mixture
Parts by weight
Urea (46%N) 2
Rock phosphate (28
% P2O5)
2
MOP (K2O) 3
Kieserite (24%MgO) 1/3

13. Year Mixture (g/plant)
Maha Yala
1 120 120
2 250 250
3 375 375
4 500 500
5 625 625
6 750 750
7 875 875
8 1000 1000
9 1125 1125
10 year onwards 1250 1250
Rate of fertilizer application

14. Crop Protection
• No serious pest and diseases have been reported in
Sri Lanka
Nursery
• Wilting of seedlings
– shade and watering
• Leaf spotting due to
– Pestalotia sp.
– Collectotrichum sp is fairly common during wet weather
– Copper containing fungicide is recommended

15. Harvesting
• Harvest indices
– when flower petals change their colour from
olive green to yellow pink
• Clusters of flowers are harvested together with the
stalks.
• Harvesting season – December to April
• Average yield - 250 kg/ha – dry
• Under good management conditions a yield of abut
850 kg/ha can be obtained.

19. Processing
Flower buds
detached from
the stalks
Drying in sun or artificial
dryer until they become
dark brown and hard
Well dried good quality
cloves Golden brown
color
Poorly dried cloves are soft
and pale brown with a whitish
mealy appearance
“Khukers”

21. Green clove buds – give about 30% dry cloves.
Safe storage MC - 8-10%
Can be stored in gunny bags without damage by fungus
and insects for 1 or 2 years.

22. Standard quality specifications
The specifications given by the SLSI.
Parameter Grade 1 Grade 2 Grade 3
Khuker cloves max. % by
mass.
3 5 10
Cloves below 10mm
length max % by mass
15 25 N.A
Extraneous matter max
% by mass
1 2 3
Moisture max. % by
mass
12 12 14

23. Thank you