Determination of Optimal Soil Moisture Depletion Level for Cardamom (Elletaria cardamomum)

The study was conducted at Tepi National Spices Research Center to determine optimal soil moisture depletion level for Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum). Six level of soil moisture depletion level (20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 100% of total available water of the soil (TAW)) were used as treatments to evaluate the vegetative, yield, and yield component of cardamom arranged in randomized complete block design. Different levels of soil moisture depletion level has significantly (p<0.05) affected leaf area, canopy cover, capsule per panicle, fresh and dry yield of capsule. The highest number of leaf area, canopy cover, and capsules per panicle, fresh and dry yield of capsule were obtained when the soil moisture depletion levels were 30% to40% of TAW and refilled to its field capacity level. On the other hand, minimum result was obtained in the ranges of 50% to 100% of TAW. In this study, the soil moisture depletion levels of 40% and 30% of TAW are recommended to cardamom grown in Tepi, South-West Ethiopia. In addition, the yield data is recorded from only one year, validating the finding at farmers circumstances will strengthen the information identified.