The Betelvine is an important commercial crop of Andhra Pradesh, occupying about 3,600 hectares. It is largely grown in Cuddapah , Guntur, Chitoor. Nellore and Ananthapur districts.

CLIMATE

It grows well under warm humid climate with diffused sun light, tropical forest conditions which provide a cool share, where adequate irrigation facilities exist and where the required condition of cool humid and shady atmosphere could be artificially created.

Soils

Deep,well drained red laterite and red loamy soils are good for betelvine. It can also be grown successfully in black (ailuvial) soils under good drainage conditions.

Varieties

KAPOORI TYPE (TELLAKU)

Leaf is greenish yellow , ovate in shape , smooth with acute tip, juicy and non-pungent. It produces large number of laterals/tip, juicy and non-pungent. It produces large number of laterals/vine and hence the yield is more when compared to other types

BANGLA TYPE(KARAPAKU)

It is moderately vigorous. The leaf is green to dark green , cordate in shape, thick with broad lamina, coarse to touch and pungent. No or very few laterals/vine.

Propagation

This is usually propagated by terminal stem cuttings obtained from sufficiently mature plantations. The length of the vines used for planting is about 30 to 45 cm having 6 to 7 nodes.

Land Preparation

Apply farmyard manure 25 t/ha as basal dressing in the last ploughing. The land is laid out ridges and furrows 45 cm apart and irrigation channels formed at convenient places. Generally Avisi is used as supporting betelvines. The seeds of Avisi are sown at the rate of 40 to 50 kg/ha during June-July along the ridges spaced at 100cm. Irrigations are given to the standards twice a week or even more frequently. Along the border sow some seeds of Moringa or Pangara, Glyricidia as wind breaks.

Planting

The vines are planted during September-October in place where live standards are raised in June-July . 50,000 setts(vine cuttings s) are required for planting a hectare . The vine setts are planted at 100 x 20 cm spacing.

Manures and Fertilizers

FIRST YEAR Black Alluvial Soils

200 kg N/ha in 4 split doses at monthly interval starting from 2nd month of planting through Ammonium sulphate. 100kg P2O5/ha through single superphosphate and 100 kg K2O/ha through Muriate of potash/ Sulphate of potash on basal dressing one month after planting.

Red Soils

200 kg N/ha (100 kg N through FYM or oilcake, 100 kg through Ammonium sulphate), 100 kg P2O5 through single super Phophate and 100 kg K2O through muriate of potash.

SECOND YEAR

Manuring schedule of first year except FYM is to be followed.

THIRD YEAR

Manuring schedule of first year is to be followed.

Intercultivation

Weeding should be done whenever necessary. Trail the vines and train the standards at monthly intervals or even earlier according to the growth of standards or vines. Fix dry bamboos where ever there is no standard.

Lowering the vines

If the vine grown beyond 3-3.5 m. Picking leaves will be difficult. Hence, the vines are bundled keep in the top 60cm and tied to the standard. The bundle is planted in the trenches dug at the base of standards.

Irrigarion

First irrigation soon after planting and 2nd irrigation should be done on 3 dr or 4th day. Subsequent irrigations can be given based on the seasonal and soil conditions i.e . once in 2 days during summer and 5 to 6 days during winter.

Plant Protection

PESTS

BETELVINE BUG (Dispunctus politus)

The nymphs and adults damage the leaves by puncturing and sucking the juice causing the leaves to shrivel, fade and dry up.

MEALY BUG(Pseudococcus sp.)

The leaves are covered with white masses and the insect sucks the sap from leaves and shoots.

Control

Spray Malathion 0.5%

NEMATODES(Meliodog vine arenaria)

They attack the roots resulting in the leaves turning yellow and pale. The roots develop knots and galls resembling small grain.

Control

Application of Neem cake at 2 t/ha will reduce the nematode population to a considerable extent in the soil s of betelvine gardens.

Diseases

PHYTOPHTHORA

The plant looses lusture, leaves droop while still green, turn yellow and drop. Blackish brown marks will be visible on the stem at ground level or slightly above the stem is discoloured and later rots. Stem becomes disintergrated.

SCLEROTIUM

The plants are usually attacked at ground level. Dense white cotton like mass of threads(Mycelium) are seen on stems. This causes rotting of affected portion causing wilting and ultimate death of plants.

Control

Spray 1% Bordeaux mixture or 0.2% Zineb, or Drenching with 0.1% wettable Ceresan.

ANTHRACNOSE

Small black circular irregular leisons appear on leaves expanding rapidly in humid conditions. Leaf spot appears as brownish black centre with yellowish hallow around and in serve causes the leaves drop owing to shrinkage of tissues.

Control

Spray 1% Bordeaux mixture or 0.2% Zineb.

BACTERIAL LEAF SPOT

Minute water soaked spots will be developed on the under surface of leaves. Later these appear on upper surface also as dark round angular ones surrounded by yellowish zone. The centre of spots are mottled brown and later turn black and in severe conditions leaves turn yellow and fall. Control
Drenching with Wettable Ceresan 0.1% or Agallol 0.1% or spray 1% Bordeaux mixture at every month, staring from August to January.
N.B: Save the standards (Avisi) from the insect pests by applying 37 kg Heptachlor/ha basally to the soil before sowing Avisi. The leaf eating caterpillars can be controlled by spraying Malathion 0.5%.

Harvesting

Harvesting can be done after 2-3 months of planting and Subsequent harvest at monthly intervals.

Yield of Kapoori type of betelvine