Field e;cperiments were conducted for three consecutive years (2005 -2007) in /lam to
study the effect of different rhizome covers in more than 25 year old large cardamom
plantation. Four different rhizome covers; old pseudo stems, shrubs and twigs, mixture
of old pseudo stems with shrubs and bamboo mat support on lower side of clumps
were tested against traditional practice of leaving old bush as such. These rhizome
covers were tested in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four
replications. Unit plot size was 9 Sq m with a total experimental area of 180 Sq m. The
effect of different rhizome covers was found significant on yield and yield attributing
characters. Highest number of new pseudo stems (26.9 and 32.2) was recorded in
shrubs and twigs and lowest (10.1 and 14.5) in traditional practice in two years
respectively. Highest number of bracts (480) and capsules (647) were recorded in plots
with bamboo mat. This rhizome cover treatment might provide large cardamom
growers reluctant . to remove old bushes with an alternate method of increasing
productivity of old plantation.

Field e;cperiments were conducted for three consecutive years (2005 -2007) in /lam to
study the effect of different rhizome covers in more than 25 year old large cardamom
plantation. Four different rhizome covers; old pseudo stems, shrubs and twigs, mixture
of old pseudo stems with shrubs and bamboo mat support on lower side of clumps
were tested against traditional practice of leaving old bush as such. These rhizome
covers were tested in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with four
replications. Unit plot size was 9 Sq m with a total experimental area of 180 Sq m. The
effect of different rhizome covers was found significant on yield and yield attributing
characters. Highest number of new pseudo stems (26.9 and 32.2) was recorded in
shrubs and twigs and lowest (10.1 and 14.5) in traditional practice in two years
respectively. Highest number of bracts (480) and capsules (647) were recorded in plots
with bamboo mat. This rhizome cover treatment might provide large cardamom
growers reluctant . to remove old bushes with an alternate method of increasing
productivity of old plantation.