Spices and Condiments (1+1)

Soil and Climate

Soil

• Well-drained soils rich in organic matter, forest loams rich in phosphorus and potassium and deep light-textured lateritic soils with a pH range of 4.6 to 6.5 and plenty of humus are good for the crop.
  
• It is mostly grown as a pure crop in the lower portion of undulating valleys.
Climate

• The crop thrives well in evergreen tropical forests at an altitude of 600 m to 1500 m above MSL.
  
• They occur in the preclimax stage of the forest. Cardamom is found to grow well even in areas where the annual rainfall ranges from 150-400 cm, provided the rainfall is well distributed.
  
• The better distribution of rain rather than high annual rainfall is the most important factor for a good crop.
  
• It grows well in a temperature range of 10° to 35°C. Valleys and gentle slopes facing the North or North-eastern direction, protected from strong winds, form an ideal situation for cardamom plantation. Cardamom also requires overhead shade.