Role of Different in-situ Soil Moisture Conservation Practices on Growth of Large Cardamom in Sikkim

Abstract

Role of Different in-situ Soil Moisture Conservation Practices on Growth of Large Cardamom in Sikkim A field experiment was conducted during 2014-15 at Indian Cardamom Research Institute, Regional Research Station, Spices Board research farm in Kabi (1567 m amsl) Sikkim. Among the moisture conservation practices, treatment having trench across slope duly filled with biomass recorded the significantly higher number of immature tillers (5.98 & 5.79), mature tillers (4.01 & 5.82) and vegetative buds (4.00) per large cardamom clump. With respect to soil moisture content, all the soil moisture conservation practices significantly improved the soil moisture content over the control at all the stages of observation. Among the soil moisture conservation practices, surface mulching recorded significantly higher values of soil moisture i.e. 21.00, 21.50, 19.60, 17.60 and 21.70 per cent on 30th November 2014, 31st December 2014, 31st January 2015, 28th February 2015 and 31st March 2015 respectively. Surface mulching conserved higher soil moisture as compared to the control.