Abstract

Cardamom are propagated in two ways. Old grown up clumps are lifted and split into planting units of each with a piece of underground stem (Rhizome) and one or two aerial shoots (pseudo stems). Each of these units is planted in a pit. Now acrial shoots develop from the rhizomes planted and a thick clump is formed in the course of two or three years. This is vegetative propagation. By adopting this method propagation is possible only to a limited extent as a clump caunot ordinarily be split up into more than 20 units for planting. The transport of planting materials. to distant places will be a task especially in hills where alone cardamom grows. The planting will have to be done with in a week after lifting the rhizomes as they will deteriorate if kept longer. Further posts and diseases may pass on to the new plantation through the mother rhizomes and aerial shoots attached to them.

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