Spices Fertilizer Mixture

Cinnamon is the dried bark of the perennial tree of C.zeylanicum of the Lauraceae family. True cinnamon is native to Sri Lanka, originally grown wild in central hill country. The history of cinnamon dates back to about 2800 B.C where it can be found referred as “kwai" in Chinese writings. Cinnamon is even mentioned in the Bible when Moses used it as an ingredient for his anointing oil in ancient Rome. It was burden in Roman funerals perhaps partly as a way to minimize the order of dead bodies. Emperor Nero is said to have burned a years’ worth of dry supply of Cinnamon at the funeral of his wife Poppaea Sabina. Ancient Egyptians used it in embalming mummies because of pleasant odors and its preservative qualities.

N

P

K

Cinnamon Mixture

23

07

15

Cinnamon (SA)

08

08

12

PLANT SPACING

NUMBER OF BUSHES/HA

AMOUNT OF FERTILIZER (G)/ BUSH/SEASON

1.2 x 0.6 m (4′ x 2′)

13890

33

1.2 x 0.9 m (4′ x 3′)

9260

50

1.2 x 1.2 m (4′ x 4′)

6950

65

1. The mixture should be applied twice a year as the rains begin during the Yala and Maha Season.

2. In addition, application of Dolomite at the rate of 500 Kg/ha/year is recommended, particularly in areas where leaf chlorosis  symptoms are observed.

3. A band of 30 cm should be left un-applied from from the base of the clump

Ginger is believed to have originated in East Asia with a historic record expanding over 3000 years. It has been widely used in Chinese and in Ayurveda medicine. There is information that even Emperor Nero and the Roman army used ginger as a medicine. It was found that ginger was imported to the European countries as a spice by 1547 A.C. In recent years ginger has been cultivated as a commercial crop in large scale in many countries such as China, India, Australia, Fiji, Hawaii, Hongkong, Jamaica, Japan, Nigeria, Pakistan, West Africa and Taiwan.

To add adequate Ca and Mg, Dolomite is mixed with the soil immediately after ploughing at the rate of 2 mt./ha. Saw dust ash is also added to the soil at the rate of 3 – 4 Kg/sq, meter of the bed during land preparation period to achieve a high yield. fertilizer is applied after weeding and should be mixed with the soil after which the beds should be mulched. Fertilizer is applied with rain or should be irrigated after fertilizer application. Glyricidia leaves can be added as an organic fertilizer to reduce the need of chemical fertilizer and to protect the soil moisture levels.

TIME

ORGANIC FERTILIZER

UREA (KG)

TSP (KG)

MOP (KG)

Basal

At the time of planting

20 mt

100

1st app.

After 01 month

65

100

2nd app.

After 3 months

65

100

Pepper is the most widely used spice in the world and known as “King of the Spices". Pepper crop is native to South Asia and historical records reveal that pepper is originated in South India. Peppercorns were a much-prized trade good often referred to also as “black gold" and used by as a form of commodity money. Until after the Middle age, virtually all of the black pepper Found in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa traveled there  from India’s Malabar occupation of the country as well as European discovery and colonization of America/s. Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, India and Brazil are the main pepper producers in the world.

YEARS

BEGINNING OF THE FIRST MONSOONAL RAINS

BEGINNING OF THE SECOND MONSOONAL RAINS

1st Year (6 months after planting)

250

250

2nd Year

500

500

3rd Year and onward

700

100

The synthetic fertilizer dosage can be reduced by 50% by applying 10 – 15 Kg of fresh Glircidia leaves and tender branches as mulch per vine four times per year.

The Cocoa tree is believed to have been originated in the Amazon basin and spreading to Central America particularly to Mexico. It was known and used by the natives in the region, Such as Olmec and Mayas, and they considered it as the “Food of goods". Cocoa seeds were used as currency by the Aztec who also enjoyed a type of bitter chocolate drink. Christopher Columbus discivered cocoa beans in America but only after 20 years later, Hernando Cortes discovered the bitter drink used by the Aztecs and sent the beans and recipes back to king Charles V of Spain. The Spanish refined the recipes adding sugar and heating the ingredients to improve the taste. By 1828 the cocoa press was developed, Allowing the extraction of cocoa butter. Later around 1879 the Swiss developed both milk chocolate and solid chocolate. By 1800’s European colonial rulers introduced cocoa to their colonies and after that, it was developed in Africa and Asia as commercial plantations.

YEARS

BEGINNING OF THE FIRST MONSOONAL RAINS

BEGINNING OF THE SECOND MONSOONAL RAINS

1st Year (6 months after planting)

125

125

2nd Year

250

250

3rd Year and onward

350

350

Coffee trees are pruned short to conserve their energy and aid in harvesting, but they can grow to more than 30 feet (9 meters) high. Each tree is covered with green, waxy leaves growing opposite each other in paires. Coffee cherries grow along the branches. Because it grows in continuous cycle. it is not unusual to see flowers, green fruit and ripe fruit simultaneously on a single tree. it takes nearly a year for a cherry to mature after first flowering and about 5 – 20. Proper care can maintain and even increase their output over the years, depending on the verity.

Coffee demands a steady supply of nutrients and this need can be met by the application of in-organic fertilizer in required doses.

YEARS

BEGINNING OF THE FIRST MONSOONAL RAINS

BEGINNING OF THE SECOND MONSOONAL RAINS

1st year (6 months after planting)

125

125

2nd year

250

250

3rd year and onward

350

350

YEARS

BEGINNING OF THE FIRST MONSOONAL RAINS

BEGINNING OF THE SECOND MONSOONAL RAINS

1st Year (6 months after planting)

100

100

2nd Year

150

150

3rd Year and onward

200

200

1. Always ensure soil is sufficiently moist after fertilizer application.

2. Integrated use of organic manure and chemical fertilizer is more beneficial than using either source alone.

3. Allied Commercial betel fertilizer is also available in 2Kg and 5Kg home garden range as well