Spices and Condiments (1+1)

Soil and climate

• Wild cinnamon trees are confined to tropical evergreen rain forests upto 1800 m MSL Cinnamon is a hardy plant, tolerant to a wide range of soils and climate conditions. In the West coast of India, the crop is confined to the laterite and sandy patches with poor nutrient status.
• Sandy loam soils with a mixture of humus or vegetative mould is the best for the sweet and fragrant bark. Cinnamon grows well in places from sea level upto an elevation of about 1000 m above ma.. Since it is mostly raised as a rain-fed crop, an annual rainfall of 150- 250 cm is considered ideal. A hot and moist climate with an average temperature of 27°C is suited for the cultivation of cinnamon.
• Prolonged spells of dry weather are not conducive for its successful growth. However, the best cultivated cinnamon is grown at low altitudes in Sri Lanka, with an average temperature of 30°C and 200- 250 cm rainfall per annum. Proximity to the sea, humid conditions and brackish water are good for the crop.