1) Soil
Humid tropical climate with an annual rainfall of 150 - 250 cm and a mean temperature range of 20°C to 30°C and elevation up to 1000 m are suitable. Deep rich loams with high humus content and laterite soils are the best suited for clove cultivation.
2) Climate
June – December is found to be optimum.
Slopes facing South and West should be avoided. North and North-Eastern slope is preferred.
3) Planting
Seeds are extracted from ripe fruits and sown immediately. The seeds germinate in five to six weeks. Two year old seedlings are planted in pits of 30 cm x 30 cm x 30 cm size filled with soil and FYM 10 kg/pit at a spacing of 6 m either way. Apply 50 g/pit Azospirillum before planting.
4) Aftercultivation
Provide shade for seedlings. Mulch the basins with dried leaves. Weed the basins as and when necessary.
Banana can be grown to provide shade during the initial establishment. Small temporary pandals may provided for partial shade during initial establishment
5) Irrigation
Prepare the main field to a fine tilth.
Frequent watering is essential in the initial stages in the absence of rains. Irrigation should be given during summer months. Applying 8 litres of water either through drip or through basin during the months of January - May is beneficial.
6) Manuring
One year old plants can be applied with FYM 15 kg, N 20 g, P 20 g, K 60 g in two splits during June - July and September - October. Every year the dosage is correspondingly increased and a bearing tree of 7 years old may be applied with FYM 50 kg, N 300 g, P 300 g and K 960 g. In addition to this apply 50 g in each of Azospirillum and Phosphobacterium should be applied one month after manuring.
| Time of application |
N |
P |
K |
| I year old seedlings |
20 (kg/ha) |
20 (kg/ha) |
60(kg/ha) |
| 7 year old tree |
300(kg/ha) |
300(kg/ha) |
960 (kg/ha) |