Black pepper Late onset of monsoon by 15 days Established plantations Mulch the basins & interspaces with green leaves. Spray lime 1% or kaolinite on foliage to reduce transpiration as well as heat load. Postpone new planting/gap filling Irrigate the crop @ 8–10 litres/day/vine (drip irrigation) or 50 litres/week/vine (hose irrigation) To prevent termite attack on live supports, drench the soil with chlorpyriphos 0.075% and spray on support up to 1 m height; repeat spray after 21 days if necessary Very young plantations Mulch the basins & interspaces with green leaves/coir pith compost. Protect young vines by providing sufficient shade. Late onset of monsoon by 30 days Established plantations Mulch the basins & interspaces with green leaves. Spray lime 1% or kaolinite on foliage to reduce transpiration as well as heat load. Postpone new planting/gap filling Irrigate the crop @ 8–10 litres/day/vine (drip irrigation) or 50 litres/week/vine (hose irrigation) To prevent termite attack on live supports, drench the soil with Chlorpyriphos 0.075% and spray on support up to 1 m height; repeat spray after 21 days if necessary Very young plantations Mulch the basins & interspaces with green leaves/coir pith compost. Protect young vines by providing sufficient shade. Irrigate the crop @ 5–8 litres/day/vine (drip irrigation) or 25 litres/week/vine (hose irrigation) Drought during vegetative / reproductive stage Provide hose irrigation @ 35-40 litres/vine/week or 8–10 litres /vine/day (drip irrigation) till monsoon is resumed. Apply organic manures like FYM @ 10 kg/vine and mulch the basin with green leaves (10 kg/vine)/coir pith compost (2 kg/vine) Postpone new planting/gap filling To prevent termite attack on live supports, drench the soil with chlorpyriphos 0.075% and spray on support up to 1 m height; repeat spray after 21 days if necessary Terminal drought Mulch the basins & interspaces with green leaves/coir pith compost. Protect young vines by providing sufficient shade. Irrigate the crop @ 5-8 litres/day/vine o prevent termite attack on live supports, drench the soil with chlorpyriphos 0.075% and spray on support up to 1 m height; repeat spray after 21 days if necessary Cardamom Late onset of monsoon by 15 days Slash the weeds and apply as mulch Avoid new planting till monsoon sets in Provide drip @ 8 litres/clump/day (once in 10-12 days) or sprinkler irrigation (4 hours per day equivalent to 25 mm of rain) Provide adequate shade for young plants Late onset of monsoon by 30 days Slash the weeds and apply as mulch Avoid new planting till monsoon sets in Provide drip @ 8 litres/clump/day (once in 10-12 days) or sprinkler irrigation (4 hours per day equivalent to 25 mm of rain) Provide adequate shade for young plants Drought during vegetative /reproductive stage (Cardamom is a perennial crop, and vegetative and reproductive phases occur simultaneously) Provide drip irrigation @ 8 litres/clump/day (once in 10-12 days) or sprinkler irrigation (4 hours per day equivalent to 25 mm of rain) Apply green mulch Provide adequate shade for young plants Remove old and unproductive suckers Terminal drought Provide drip irrigation @ 8 litres/clump/day (once in 10-12 days) or sprinkler irrigation (4 hours per day equivalent to 25 mm of rain) Apply green mulch Provide adequate shade for young plants Remove old and unproductive suckers Ginger and Turmeric Late onset of monsoon by 15 days Provide thick mulch cover with green leaves/coir pith compost. Growing suitable intercrops for shade Late onset of monsoon by 30 days Cultivate short duration varieties Growing suitable intercrops for shade Drought during vegetative /reproductive stage Irrigate the crop weekly once equivalent to 5 – 10 mm of rain Apply green leaf/coir pith compost mulch Drought during rhizome formation and development Irrigate the crop weekly once equivalent to 5 – 10 mm of rain Apply green leaf/coir pith compost mulch Ginger can be harvested and used for vegetable purpose Terminal drought Harvest the crop Nutmeg Late onset of monsoon by 15 days Provide thick mulch cover with green leaves/coir pith compost around basin. Provide adequate shade for young plants Late onset of monsoon by 30 days Irrigate the plant @ 50 to 100 litres/plant/week and apply green mulch Provide adequate shade for young plants Drought during reproductive stage Nutmeg is a perennial crop, and vegetative and reproductive phases occur simultaneously Irrigate the plant @ 50 to 100 litres/plant/week and apply green mulch Provide adequate shade for young plants Terminal drought Irrigate the plant @ 50 to 100 litres/plant/week and apply green mulch Provide adequate shade for young plants Source : NHM