Arecanut or betel nut or supari (Areca catechu) is an important member of the family
Araceae. It is chewed, both as raw nut and after processing.
Climate and area of distributio
Arecanut is basically a tropical plant commonly found in most parts of the NER, also in karnataka.,
The crop
flourishes well at temperatures ranging from 14–36 ºC. Extremes of temperature and
wide diurnal variations are not conducive for desirable performance. Wet tropical and
humid climate is considered to be most suitable for its successful cultivation and growth
In northeast India, arecanut is extensively grown in Assam, Tripura and in the foothills of
Meghalaya. It also grows well in the foothills of Mizoram, Nagaland, Manipur and
Arunachal Pradesh. Arecanut is an important component of multi-storied cropping
systems and considering its addictive properties
Growing season
The best months for planting arecanut are during the pre-monsoon period of May–June
with the onset of the monsoon. It can also be planted in September–October provided
there would be some sources of water for irrigation
Nutrients
Adequate supply of plant nutrients in the soil throughout the life of the crop is essential to
get high yields. Hence an annual application of about 1–2 kg each of green leaf and
compost or cattle manure per bearing palm is recommended. Green leaf and compost can
be applied as a single dose in September–October. Irrespective of the age of the plant, a
full dose of green leaf and compost or cattle manure should be applied from the first year
of planting itself. The green leaf and compost or cattle manure may be broadcast around
the base of each plant after weeding and mixed with the soil by light forking. Or it may
be applied in basins around the palm, usually dug to a depth of 15 to 20 cm, and at 0.75
to 1 m radius. In acidic soils, the required quantity of lime may be forked in during the
dry months.
Water requirements
Most of the arecanut plantation areas in the region are rain-fed. Irrigation of arecanut
plantation, at least in northeast India, is uncommon. However, it is observed that in some
pockets of the region, farmers occasionally carry out manual irrigation by connecting
their fields with upstream or nearby perennial streams, for watering the plants during the
dry season. The practice is more common when the plants are still small.
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