Small cardamom, or Elettaria cardamomum, is a medicinal plant native to the Western Ghats region of India. It is used to treat various digestive issues as well as cough, bronchitis, and infections. The plant thrives in humid, tropical forests between 1500-2500 meters in elevation. There are three main cultivars grown - Malabar, Mysore, and Vazhukka - which differ in panicle structure and capsule characteristics. Cardamom is propagated through vegetative suckers and requires irrigation, fertilization, mulching, weeding, and shade regulation to maximize yields.

1. Small cardamom

2. COLLEGE OF HORTICULTURE
An Assignment Presentation
On
“Small cardamom”
Course No.: OTH:6.4 (Medicinal and Aromatic Plants)
Present to:-
Mr. S.K.Acharya
College of Horticulture
S.D. Agricultural University,
Jagudan, 382710
Presented by:-
Name :-Shubham kumar

3. B.N. – Elettaria cardamomum
Fmaily - Zingiberaceae
Origin – Western Ghat
Plant part used - Pod
Small cardamom

4. Medicinal use-
Cardamom is used for digestion problems
including heartburn, intestinal spasms,
irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), diarrhea,
constipation, liver and gallbladder
complaints, and loss of appetite. It is also
used for common cold and other
infections, cough, bronchitis, sore mouth
and throat, urinary problems, epilepsy,
headache, and high blood pressure.

5. How does it work?
Cardamom contains chemicals that might treat
intestinal spasms, kill some bacteria, reduce
swelling, and help the immune system.
Nutritional fact-
Cardamom is rich in various vitamins and
micronutrients as well. These include niacin,
pyridoxine, riboflavin, thiamine, vitamin
A, vitaminC, sodium, potassium, calcium,
copper, iron, manganese, magnesium,
phosphorus, and zinc.

7. Climate and soil
The crop thrives well in regions which
receive a well-distributed annual rainfall
of 1500-2500 mm with a mean
temperature of 15°C to 35°C, relative
humidity of 75-90% and 600-1200 m
above MSL. Cardamom grows
luxuriantly in forest loam soils, which are
generally acidic in nature with a pH
range of 5.5-6.5

8. Types/cultivars
Based on adaptability, nature of panicle, shape
and size of capsules, the cultivars are categorized
into Malabar, Mysore and Vazhukka. The cultivar
Malabar with a prostrate panicle (panicles
spreading on ground) is widely grown in
Karnataka, while the cultivar Mysore,
characterized with erect panicles is extensively
cultivated in Kerala and parts of Tamil Nadu.
Whereas, the cultivar Vazhukka, a natural hybrid
between Malabar and Mysore types with a
distinct semi-erect (pendent) panicle, is the most
popular cultivar in Kerala.

9. Propagation
Propagation by vegetative means
through suckers is considered to be the
most preferred method. Production of
planting materials from seeds and
through tissue culture are alternative
methods of propagation. Seedling
propagated plants may not be true to
its parent.

10. Irrigation
It is essential to irrigate the crop during
January to May. Plants may be irrigated
at an interval of 10-15 days till the onset
of monsoon, by adopting a convenient
method of irrigation either by hose/
sprinkler/mini-sprinkler/drip. In case of
drip irrigation, it needs to be
supplemented with sprinkler irrigation
once in a month.

11. Fertilizer
A fertilizer does of 75kg nitrogen (N),
75kg phosphorus (P2O5) and 150g
potash (K2O) per ha is recommended
under irrigated condition for high
yielding plantation yielding 100 kg/ha
and above and a dose of 30:60:30 kg/ha
is recommended for gardens under
rainfed condition.

12. Intercultural operations
Mulching
It is an important cultural practice in
cardamom. Fallen leaves of the shade
trees are utilized for mulching. Sufficient
mulch should be applied during
November-December to reduce the ill
effects of drought, which prevails for
nearly 4-5 months during summer.
Exposing the panicle over mulch is
beneficial for pollination.

13. Weeding
The first round of weeding is to be
carried in May-June, the second in
August-September and the third in
December-January. Weedicides like
paraquat @625ml in 500 litres of
water may be sprayed in the
interspaces between rows leaving
60cm around the plant base.

14. Trashing
Trashing consists of removing old
and drying shoots of the plant once
in a year with the onset of monsoon
under rainfed conditions and 2-3
times in high density plantations
provided with irrigated facilities.

15. Shade regulation
It is very sensitive to moisture stress.
Shade helps to regulate soil moisture as
well as temperature and provides
congenial micro-climate for cardamom.
Excess shade is also quite detrimental and
shade has to be regulated so as to provide
50-60% filtered sunlight. In order to
provide adequate light during monsoon,
shade regulation may be taken up before
the onset of monsoon.

16. Earthing up
After the monsoon is over, a thin layer of
fresh fertile soil, rich in organic matter
may be earthed up at the base of the
clump, covering up to the collar region be
scraping between the rows or collecting
soil from staggered trenches/check pits.
This encourages new growth.

17. Harvesting and processing
Cardamom plants normally start bearing two
years after planting. In most of the areas the
peak period of harvest is during October-
November. Picking is carried out at an interval of
15-25 days. Ripe capsules are harvested in order
to get maximum green colour during curing.
After harvest, capsules are dried either in fuel
kiln or electrical drier or in the sun. It has been
found that soaking the freshly harvested green
cardamom capsules in 2% washing soda solution
for 10 minutes prior to drying helps to retain the
green colour during drying.

18. When drier is used, it should be dried at 45-
50o C for 14-18 hours, while for kiln, over
night drying at 50-60 o C is required. The
capsules kept for drying are spread thinly
and stirred frequently to ensure uniform
drying. The dried capsules are rubbed with
hands or coir mat or wire mesh and
winnowed to remove any foreign matter.
They are then sorted out according to size
and colour, and stored in black polythene
lined gunny bags to retain the green colour
during storage.

19. Plant protection
Pest
Thrips
Shoot, panicle, capsule/borer
Aphids
Parasitic nematodes
Disease
Katte diseases
Capsule rot
Damping or rhizome rot

20. https://www.webmd.com/vitamins-
supplements/ingredientmono-614-
cardamom.aspx?activeingredientid=614&activeingredie
ntname=cardamom
https://www.organicfacts.net/health-benefits/herbs-
and-spices/health-benefits-of-cardamom.html
Ref-
http://www.spices.res.in/pdf/package/cardamom.pdf