TnlJ.rn'" of Spices & Aromatic Crops 3 (2) : 105-123, 1994 105 of tree spices (clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and allspice) . a review C K THANKAMANI, K SIVARAMAN, K KANDIANNAN & K V PETER National Research Centre for Spices Marikunnu P.O., Calicut - 673 012, India. )! ABSTRACT Clove (Syzygium aromaticum), nutmeg (Myristica (ragrans), cinnamon (Cinnamomum uerum) and allspice (Pimenta dioica) are important tree spices and have economic value as ingredients in food, beverages and medicines. Agronomical aspects like nursery practices, selection of site, spacing, planting, manuring, mulching, weeding, irrigation and harvesting are important packages for higher and sustainable yield. The availa}:>le information on these aspects are reviewed. Key words: agronomy, allspice, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, tree spices. Introduction 1936; Pillai 1972; Shanmugavelu & Rao India produces about 5500 t of tree 1977), and grows at 600 m (Simpson spices (clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and 1978) to 1000 m above MSL (Sheffield allspice) per year as against a demand 1950; Pillai 1972; Shanmugavelu & Rao of 7000 t. The deficit is met by imports. 1977) with a rainfall of 1500-2000 mm There is an urgent need to augment and a mean temperature of 20-30°C production by expansion of area and (Simpson 1978; Bavappa & Ruettimann adopting low input sustainable tech­ 1981a). Deep red loam, sandy soil nologies. Research work on tree spices (Purseglove et al. 1981), black soil and is confined mainly to standardisation of deep gravelly sub soil (Simpson 1978) propagation techniques; information on are suitable but water logged conditions are undesirable (Ridley 1912). cultural practices and fertilizer sched­ ules to be followed are limited. The Propagation and planting economic part used, origin, major pro- No distinct varieties are recognised in . ducing countries and major areas of India or elsewhere (Sritharan & Bavappa production of tree spices in India are 1981). The common method ofpropaga­ indicated in Table 1. tion is through seeds, collected from Clove (Syzygium aromaticum (L.) healthy and regular bearing trees (Pillai Merr. & Perry) 1972). A branch 50 em long, selected from such trees should have more than Climate and soil 10 terminals, 14 clusters, 100 flowers Clove requires a humid climate (Crofton and 1.5 em long flowers (Bavappa & Table 1 . General infonnation on clove, nutmeg, cinnamon and allspice ~ India ;:< Major ",... Economic Name Origin producing part Area" Production* Major ~ countries (ha) (t) States ";0. ro & Clove Dried Moluccas Indonesia, 1735 1477 Kerala, i".. Syzygium aromaticum unopened Islands of Tanzania, Tamil Nadu, (L.) Merril & Perry) flower buds Indonesia Sri Lanka, Karnataka, (Myrtaceae) Madagascar Andaman & Nicobar Islands Nutmeg Seed and Moluccas Indonesia, 3828 3663 . Kerala, Myristica fragrans Houtt. mace Islands of West Indies, Tamil Nadu (Myrtaceae) Indonesia Grenada Cinnamon Bark Sri Lanka, Indonesia, 565 355 Kerala, Cinnamomum verum excluding Malabar Coast Tanzania, Tamil Nadu Bercht & PresL exoderm of India Sri Lanka, (Lauraceae) Seychelles, Madagascar Allspice Dried West Indies, Jamaica, NA NA Kerala, Pimenta dioica L. fruit Central Guatemala, Tamil Nadu (Myrtaceaee) America Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica NA - Not available *1992-93 f-' o 0> of tree spices 107 Re1attlm,mn 1981a). Healthy olive green Krishnamoorthy 1994) are possible but seeded fruit is more ideal than due to low meristematic actvity, vegeta­ seeded fruits (Purseglove et aZ. tive propagation is difficult (Purseglove S.eed viability is short and hence et aZ. 1981). In vitro propagtion has also to be sown immediately after collec­ been reported (Mathew, Francis & , (Pillai 1972; Shanmugavelu & Rao Hariharan 1987; Mathew & Hariharan . 1977; Prasanna Kumari Amma 1981; 1990; Superman & Blake 1990; Anony- Krishnamoorthy & Rema 1988; N azeem, . mous 1994). Sudhadevi & Nair 1992; Sabale, Nadkarani & Nawale· 1992). The Age, colour of cotyledon and height of . viability is higher at 16°0 than at 25 - seedlings determine the time of trans­ 30 °0 (Hasnah, Wahid & Hobir 1984; planting. Nine to twelve months Sutarno & Utami 1984). Germination (Bavappa & Ruetimama 1981a; Prasanna and vigour of seedlings are increased by Kumari Amma 1981) to 2 year old keeping the seeds between two moist seedlings (Krishnamoorthy 1988) with gumaies (Nair et aZ. 1977) and' sowing olive green cotyledons and radicle not during June, with heavy (Prasanna blackened (Wigg 1940) after attaining Kumari Amma 1981), dehusked seeds 30-50 cm (Verheij & Snijders 1989) to (Pillai 1972) and by keeping the groove 60-80 cm height (Bavappa & Ruettimama upward (Badami 1938). Growth regu­ 1981a) are suited for main field plant­ lators are also used to induce germina­ ing. Seedlings established in coconut tion (Dhalimi 1983 a & b; Hasnah et aZ. husk pots (Prasanna Kumari Amma 1984). Ten to fifteen days are required 1981) and polybags (Martin et aZ. 1992 for 90 per cent germination (Purseglove a) have higher survival. Land prepara, et aZ. 1981). Rooting medium in general, tion and planting were described by consists of soil, sand and farm yard Simpson (1978) and different spacings manure in equal proportion (Pillai 1972; and pit sizes recommended (Table 2). Bavappa & Ruettimama 1981a; Prasamaa Kumari Amma 1981; Krishnamoorthy Aftercare 1988). Different sizes of polythene bags are used for raising sedlings (Simpson Shade is essential to protect the crop 1978; Wahid et aZ. 1978; Bavappa & from adverse weather conditions (Ridley Ruettimann 1981a; Krishnamoorthy 1912). Banana (Anonymous 1957; 1988). Seeds are to be dibbled at a Bavappa & Ruettimann 1981a; spacing of 2-3 cm (Krishnamoorthy Krishnamoorthy 1988), cassava (Verheij . 1988) and not below 3 cm depth (Anony­ & Snijders 1989; Martin et aZ. 1992 b) mous 1949). Simpson (1978) has de­ GZyricidia sp., Peltophorum ferrugeneum scribed nursery practices for clove. A (Anonymous 1959), Acacia sp., AZbizia fertilizer solution of 1 kg urea, 0.75 kg sp., subabool (Krishnamoorthy 1988) super phosphate and 0.5 kg muriate of and Erythrina sp. (Verheij & Snijders potash dissolved in 1001 of water when 1989), the common shade plants, are to applied at monthly intervals promoted be established, 6-12 . months prior to early vigour (Bavappa & Ruettimann clove planting (Pillai 1972; Bavappa & 1981a). Vegetative propagation by Reuttimann 1981a). Artificial shade cutting (Fernie 1946), marcoting (Zulkifli with plaited coconut leaves (Pillai 1972; 1986) and approach grafting (Rema & Bavappa & Ruettimann 1981a) is also Thankamani et al. 108 Table 2. Recommended spacing and pit sizes for clove Spacing (m) Pit size (cm3) Reference Simpson 1978 2.7 x 5.4 90 "\ 6.0 x 6.0 80 Bavappa & Ruettimann 1981a ~~ ';~ 7.0 x 7.0 75 Krishnamoorthy 1988 % "f 7.7 x 7.5 90 Pillai 1972 ;; ','! 9.0 x 9.0 Tidbury 1954 8.0 x 8.0 Verheij & Snijders 1989 6.0 x 8.0 Verheij & Snijders 1989 8.0 x 11.0 Verheij & Snijders 1989 useful. From third year onwards, shade recommended for 4 year old plants is not needed (Simpson 1978) and wind (Simpson 1978). breaks like casurina and Japanese bamboo may be planted at the border of Clove responds to applied fertilizer plots. Mulching the soil near the tree (Wahid & Usman 1984; Daswir & base during summer conserves mois­ Zulkifli 1986). Nutrient removal by ture (Pillai 1973; Martin et al. 1992 b). adult clove tree showed the following Soil erosion needs to be controlled when trend:K> N>Ca> Mg>S> Mn> P> Fe>Cu> slopy land is used for cultivation by B> Zn (Nazeem 1989). Fish and prawn bench terracing to a diameter of 0.5 m refuses are used as manure (Anony­ (Bavappa & Ruettimann 1981a) and it mous 1936; Pillai 1973). Compost or may be widened as the plant grows. farm yard manure can also be used Weeding is to be done when weed (Shanmugavelu & Rao, 1977). Ferti­ intensity is high (Pereira & Hosegood lizer mixutres @ 200 g (6:20:6 NPK) is 1962 ; Pillai 1973; Purseglove et al. recommended for 18 month old trees 1981). Herbicides are also used to (Djafaruddin 1980). Urea, rock phos­ control weeds (Arif & Putrawan 1977; phate 'and muriate of potash in the Martin 1990). Cover crops (Simpson proportion of 2:2:3 along with magne­ 1978; Djafaruddin 1980; Martin 1990) sium sulphate 1/3 part by weight is and green manure crops like Tephrosia recommended per tree for initial 5 candida (Anonymous 1936), years, the quantity being 0.25, 0.50, Calapagonium sp. (Pereira & Hosegood 0.75, 1.00 and 1.25 kg for first, second, 1962; Krishnamoorthy 1988), Mimosa third, fourth and fifth years, respec­ sp., Stylosanthus sp. (Bavappa & tively (Bavappa & Ruettimann 1981a). Ruettimann 1981a) and Vigna hosei NPK mixutre of 15:15:15 is recom­ (Verheij & Snijders 1989) conserve mended @ 4-8 kg per tree and applied moisture and suppress weed growth. in four splits, during September, De­ Regular irrigation is essential especially cember, March and June at Indonesia during summer at younger stages (Pillai (Usman & Wahid 1986). Rao (1991) 1973; Simpson 1978). Irrigation with recommended 500:320:400 g N,P20, and 10-20 1 water thrice a week per plant is K,0 per adult tree per year. The Kerala 5' Agronomy of tree spices 109 Agricultural University (Anonymous less of eugenol (Gopalakrishnan, 1993) has recommended a fertilizer Nirmala Menon & Mathew 1982). schedule of 20:18:50 g of NPK along Harvestihg commences during January with 15 kg of compost per year during in plains and March-April in high I':, the first year of planting which is to be ranges in India (Krishnamoorthy 1988); ~: gradually increased to 300:250:750 g in Zanzibar, during June-July and in [ NPK and 50 kg of compost per year from Amboyna and Penang, during Novem­ 15th year onwards. Scattering of ber-December (Verheij & Snijders 1989). : manure around the tree base to a radius Harvesting is done using a step ladder , roughly equal to canopy spread (Pillai and care must be taken not to break the 1972) or to a depth of 10-15 em and 15- branches. Forty kg of green cloves can 20 em away from the base of the tree be harvested by a person in a day and (Shanmugavelu & Rao 1977) and band 3-8 pickings are possible in a year application of fertilizers at a distance of (Verheij & Snijders 1989).