Bed of size 6x1m with suitable height may be prepared. Sowing can be done in rows at a distance of 10 cm. About 30-50 g of seed would be required for sowing in one bed. After sowing the seeds may be covered with a thin layer of fine soil and mulched properly with potha grass. The contact of the mulched material with the soil may be avoided by putting twigs across the bed below the mulch. Regular watering to ensure sufficient moisture in the beds may be done. Watering during rainy days can be avoided.

In the secondary nurseries, weeding, earthing up and irrigation may be done depending on requirement. Gap filling may be done using healthy seed lings.

To attain uniform growth and tillering the first dose of chemical fertiliser can be given to the seedlings. Manuring using a mixture of 200 g of Ammonium sulphate, 100 g of Musoriphos and 100 g of Muriate of Potash per bed of size 6xml can be given. Before manuring, the mulched materials from the beds may be removed, light forking given and manure applied in shallow basins in between the raws without touching the rhizome or clump. The manure may be covered properly with soil, mulched the beds thoroughly and irrigated.

Instead of soil application, foliar spraying of fertilisers can also be done using a spray solution of 1kg Urea, 750 g Super phosphate and 500 g Muriate of Potash, dissolved in 250 litres of water.

In Plantation, the second round of fertiliser application can be done. The fertilisers may be applied after the completion of the south west monsoon.

The recommended dose of chemical fertiliser for the second round of application is 42 kg of N, 42 kg of P and 85 kg of K per ha. For irrigated plantation and 38 kg N, 38 kg P and 75 kg K for rainfed areas.

2.5 kg of Urea or 5 kg of Amonium suplhate will give 1 kg N, 4.5 kg Mussoriphos give 1kg P and 1.8 kg MOP give 1kg K. The fertiliser may be applied in a circular band of 20 cm wide and 30-40 cm away from the base of the clump and mixed well with the soil.

Harvesting may be continued in plantations. Mature cassules just short of full ripeness may be harvested, washed thoroughly and dried in specially built drying chamber. Dried capsules are cleaned, graded according to size.

packed in black polythene lined gunny bags and stored in wooden boxes to retain the green colour. In the cardamom nurseries, incidence of shoot borer may be controlled by spraying moncrotophos 0.075 per cent (210 ml of chemcial in 100 litres of water or Fenthion 0.075 per cent (93 ml in 100 litres of water).

To check the incidence of root grubs in nurseries as well as in plantations, the beetles of the pest may be catched using insect net and destroyed.

Spraying of Fenthion or moncrotophos will also help in controlling the beetle population. To control the grubs, drenching of Chlorpyrifox 0.05 per cent or application of Phorate 10 g may be done for preparing 0.04 per cent Chlorpyrifos, 200 ml of chemical may be diluted with 100 litres of water.

About two three litres of solution may be drenched around the base of the plant, 10-15 cm. away from the clump. The chemical may be applied during the end of September or early October, when the grub population is maximum.

The incidence of white fly attack is reported from some of the cardamom growing tracts in Kerala. The numphs of the insect suck sap of the plant, mainly from under surface of the leaves. In severely infected areas, it leads to yellowing and gradually drying of leaves which ultimately affect the vigour of the plant. The adult flies can be trapped using a sticky trap.

Rectangular metal trap of convenient size may be made, painted yellow and coated with castor oil or grease. This trap may be placed in the infected garden about one metre above the ground level and adult flies trapped in it. If the population of the files is very high, the trap may be moved along the rows while shaking the cardamom plants, which would help in catching more flies.

For controlling the nymphs, spraying of need oil 0.5 per cent with Triton or Sandovit (500 ml of neem oil and 500 ml of Triton or Sandovit diluted with 100 litres of water) is recommended on the lower surf be repeated after 15-20 days. If the incidence is still progressing, the lower surface of the leaf may be sprayed with any one of the following insecticides.

1. Triazophos 40 EC, 0.04 per cent 2. Acephate 75 SP, 0.075 per cent.

Prophylactic spraying of one per cent BM is recommended in cardamom nurseries to control the fungal disease.