Influence of In-situ Soil Water Conservation Practices on Growth, Yield and Economics of Large Cardamom under Rainfed Condition at North East India

Field experiment was carried out during 2015-2016 in rainfed condition at Indian Cardamom Research Institution (ICRI), Regional Research Station, Spices Board Research farm at Kabi, North Sikkim, India. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Block Design, with eight treatments viz., T1 (trench across the slope), T2 (trench across the slope + biomass in trench), T3 (pit in between four plants), T4 (pit in between four plants + biomass in the pit), T5 (half moon-shaped trench at the base of every clump), T6 (half moon-shaped trench + biomass in trench), T7 (surface mulching) and T8 (control) with three replications. In respect of growth parameters of large cardamom significantly higher number of immature tillers (5.63 & 5.62), mature tillers (5.40 & 5.42) and vegetative buds (5.59) were recorded in trenches across slope filled with biomass followed by treatment half-moon shape trench at base of every clump. Highest number of spike/clump (4.62), capsule/spike (8.34), dry yield/clump (57.92 gm), dry yield (257.42 kg/ha) yield parameters were found in the treatment having trench across slope filled with biomass, followed by treatment having half-moon shape trench at base of every clump as compare to control. Among the soil moisture conservation practices, surface mulching recorded significantly higher values of soil moisture i.e.23.15, 22.96, 24.26, 23.00 and 23.72 per cent on 30th November, 31st December, 31st January, 29th February and 31st March, respectively. The treatment trench across the slope+ biomass in slope gave maximum net ( 2, 81,009/-) and gross return ( 4, 11,099/-), as well as benefit: Cost ratio (2.16), followed by half-moon shape trench at base of every clump, when compared with the control.