Betelvine: Leaf in great demand

BETEL VINE (Piper betle.L) belonging to the genus Piper of Piperaceae family, is a dioecious plant. Well-drained fertile soils or laterite soils are suited for it. The crop can thrive well between 10oC and 40oC. Ideal rainfall and good irrigation facilities are essential for its successful growth.

Betelvine is a climber and is dimorphic in branching. The vegetative climbing branches are orthotropic and produce plagiotropic side branches which are reproductive in nature.

The reproductive branches generally do not have any adventitious roots and do not produce any vegetative or climbing branches. Usually vegetative branches are used for propagation in betelvine.

Female and male varieties are observed in betelvine. The important types grown in Kerala are Thulasi, Venmani, Arikodi, Kalkodi, Karilanchikarpuram, Chelanthikarpuram, Koottakkodi, Perumkodi, Amaravila and Pramuttan.

There are two main planting seasons in Kerala - one during May - June (Edavakodi) and another during August - September (Thulakodi) synchronising the south west and North East monsoon respectively.

Areas with good shade and irrigation facilities are ideal for the crop. Therefore the crop can be successfully grown in coconut and arecanut gardens and in homesteads.

The crop can be grown in raised beds of one metre width and convenient length or in furrows with a width and depth of 60-75 cm each or in basins taken in the soil with a diameter of one meter with a depth of 0.30-0.40m.

The method of planting is influenced by drainage problems and level of water table. In central Kerala, planting on raised beds is generally practised. The land is dug well before planting and furrows/basins/raised beds are formed.

The top portion of 2-3 year old mature vines are used as planting materials.

Pest and disease free vines should be selected for taking planting materials. The planting materials/ cuttings should have atleast three nodes.

A maximum of 100 cuttings can be planted in one cent of land. The cuttings are planted in the furrows or in the periphery of the basins or in the raised beds in 20 cm apart.

The cuttings should be planted in such a way that one node should be buried in the soil and the second node should be at the ground level.

The soil around the planted cuttings should be pressed firmly by hand to encourage quick germination but damage to the planted cuttings, should be avoided.

Adequate shading should be provided and till the establishment, splashing of water on the vines by hand four times a day is essential. Normally the cuttings establish within two to three weeks time.

If properly managed, reproductive branches (plagiotropic side branches) start emerging within three months and thus starts giving returns.

After the establishment and subsequent flushing, the frequency of irrigation can be gradually reduced to two times a day-in the morning and in the evening.

But in hot summer days, spraying/ splashing of water on the leaves is essential to avoid injury to the leaves due to sun- scorching.

Mulching with dried leaves in the furrows/basins/beds is a welcome practice for conserving moisture. It will also enhance the organic matter content of the soil on decomposition.

P.S.Sasi

CADA, Kerala

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