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Arecanut (Areca catechu L.) ; Palmae

Mangala, Sumangala, Subamangala, Mohitnagar, Srimangala, Samruthi (Andaman), Hirehalli dwarf, VTLAH 1, VTLAH 2 and Thirthahalli dwarf.
Arecanut is capable of growing in a variety of soils. It thrives best in well drained soils. Adequate protection from exposure to South-Western sun is essential to avoid sunscorch. Quick growing shade trees have to be planted on the southern and western sides well in advance of planting seedlings. It is sensitive to moisture deficit and should be grown where adequate water facilities are available. Grows in a wide range of temperature ranging from minimum of 40C to a maximum of 400C. Altitude upto 1000 m above MSL. Rainfall – 750 – 4500 mm.

June – December.

For raising seedlings seed nuts from pre-marked and pre-potent mother palms of outstanding performance are selected. Sown immediately after harvest at a spacing of 5 – 6 cm apart in sand beds under partial shade with their stalk end pointing upwards. After the sprouts have produced two to three leaves (90 days old), they are transplanted to Secondary nursery beds at a spacing of 30 x 30 cm or polythene bag of 30 x 10 cm filled with forest soil and are allowed to grow for 12 to 18 months under partial shade. Periodical watering should be given.
Dwarf and compact seedlings with more number of leaves of 1 – 2 years age should be selected. Plant in pits of 90x90x90cm at a spacing of 2.75 m either way and covered with soil to the collar level and pressed around. Provide shade during summer months. Growing Banana or other crops in advance may also provide shade.
Irrigate weekly once during November – February, once in 4 days during March – May. Flood irrigation 175 lit/ tree/ day. In drip irrigation 16 – 20 lit/ tree/ day.
Apply to each bearing palm (5 years and above) 10 – 15 kg of FYM or green leaf. 100:40:140 g of NPK/ tree/ year. To palms less than five years old, half of the above dose is recommended. Manures are applied during January – February after the North – East monsoon in a basin of 0.75-1.00 m radius around the tree to a depth of 20 – 30 cm.
Weeding is done twice or thrice in a year. Wherever the land is slopy terracing has to be done to prevent soil erosion.
Cocoa, black pepper, coffee, cinnamon, clove and citrus

Pests
Mites
Spray Dicofol 18.5 EC at 2.5 ml/lit of water.
Spindle bug
Spray with Dimethoate 1.5 ml/lit.
Nematode
Soil application of P. fluorescens (Pfbv 22) and B. subtilis (Bbv 57) each @ 10 g / vine was found to be effective in reducing the root knot and lesion nematode population.

Bud rot or mahali disease
 Infected tissues of the bud should be scooped off and treated with Bordeaux paste
 Destruction and removal of seed palms and bunches
 Drenching crowns of surrounding healthy palms with 1% Bordeaux mixture
Foot rot
 Affected palms have to be isolated by digging trenches all round
 The severely affected palms should be cut and destroyed
 The stumps should be pulled out by digging and improved the drainage
 Soil drenching with 1% Bordeaux mixture
Stem breaking
 Wrapping up of the green portion of the stem which are exposed to the SouthWest sun to protect against sun-scorch
Yellow leaf disease
 Application of balanced nutrients with additional quantity of superphosphate
 Apply 1 kg of lime/tree/year
 Apply organic manures @ 12 kg/ tree/year
Leaf spot
 Foliar spray with 1% bordeaux mixture or mancozeb @ 0.2 %

The bearing starts after 5 years of planting. Nuts are harvested when they are three quarters ripe. The number of harvests will vary from three to five in one year depending upon the season and place of cultivation.

1250 kg/ha

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