Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
of India. The crop is grown in a well distributed rainfall of 1500-2500
mm, temperature range of 15-25 °C and an altitude of 600-1200 m above
MSL. Cardamom is a shade loving plant. Based mainly on inflorescence
type, cardamom is classified in to Malabar, Mysore and Vazhukka types.
11.3.1 CLIMATE CHANGE AND CARDAMOM
Temperature (1978 to 1997) and precipitation (1957-1996) recorded in
Cardamom Hills of Kerala and their effect on cardamom production re-
vealed that the minimum temperature exhibited drastic variation over the
years. The difference between the warmest and coolest month had nar-
rowed considerably and the days had become warmer markedly. The total
annual average precipitation received was more or less equal (except dur-
ing 1967-1976). The total number of rainy days had increased. The rain-
fall parameters had positive correlation with production of cardamom with
significant relationship for number of rainy days (Murugan et al., 2000).
An experiment conducted during 1991 to 2001 at the Regional Agricultur-
al Research Station, Ambalavayal, Kerala revealed that maximum temper-
ature had strong positive correlation with capsule yield in the first year of
planting (still in vegetative stage) while during flowering stage, in the sec-
ond year after planting, maximum temperature negatively influenced the
final capsule yield (Sunil et al., 2010). The mean air temperature increased
significantly during the last 30 years; the greatest increase and the largest
significant upward trend was observed in the daily temperature. The high-
est increase in minimum temperature was registered for June (0.37 °C/18
years) at the Myladumpara station. December and January showed greater
warming across the stations. Rainfall during the main monsoon months
(June-September) showed a downward trend. Relative humidity showed
an increasing trend in the cardamom growing tracts.
Rao et al. (2008) reported that South-west monsoon and annual rainfall
showed declining trends from 1951 onwards at rates of 5.2 and 5.6 mm/
year, respectively in the humid tropics. However, the occurrence of floods
and droughts, as evident in 2007 (floods due to a 41% excess in monsoon
rainfall) and the summer of 2004 (drought due to no significant rainfall
from November 2003 to April 2004), is likely to increase and crop losses
are expected. Climate change in addition to deforestation will affect these
thermo sensitive crops (cardamom, tea, black pepper, etc.) as these are
