Supplementary notes on Arecanut

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Contents
Introduction .........................................................................................................................................................3
Importance ...........................................................................................................................................................3
Geographical distribution ....................................................................................................................................3
Climatic requirements ..........................................................................................................................................4
Soil requirement...................................................................................................................................................4
Varieties of Arecanut ...........................................................................................................................................4
Propagation ..........................................................................................................................................................5
Season and Planting .............................................................................................................................................5
Manures and Fertilizer management...................................................................................................................5
Irrigation ...........................................................................................................................................................6
Shading .............................................................................................................................................................6
Harvesting and Processing ...............................................................................................................................7
Yield ..................................................................................................................................................................7
14 Plant protection ..........................................................................................................................................7
14.1 Important pests affecting arecanut .............................................................................................................7
14.2 Diseases and control measures of arecanut ................................................................................................7

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 “The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops, but the cultivation and perfection of
human beings.” – Unknown

Introduction
√ Botanical name of Arecanut is Areca catechu.
√ Family- Arecaceae
√ Areca nut is not a native crop of India. It is generally believed to be native to Malaysia or Philippines where it
is grown in many varieties.
√ Botanically, the arecanut fruit is a berry.
√ Areca catechu is a medium-sized palm tree, growing straight to 20 m (66 feet) tall, with a trunk 10–15 cm (4–
6 in) in diameter. The leaves are 1.5–2 m (4.9–6.6 feet) long, pinnate, with numerous, crowded leaflets.

Importance
√ Areca nut and the plant as a whole is used widely in India and South Asia as: a masticator for chewing
purposes, vegetable, medicine, stimulant, timber, fuel wood, clothing, wrapping, lubricant, tannin and so
forth.
√ The nut is chewed with the betel leaf as it has a stimulating effect.
√ The chemical composition of areca nut comprises 14 to 15 percent of
fat, polyphenols, tannins, alkaloids, polysaccharides, a small amount of protein, and vitamin B6 and vitamin C.
√ The fat, which is extracted by using organic solvents, is made up of mastic acid and its byproducts. The fat is
mixed in a certain proportion with cocoa butter or coconut oil, which is then used to make confectioneries
and duplicate dairy products.
√ The polyphenol (tannins) content varies from 38 to 47% in tender nuts and 15 to 22% in ripe nuts. Tannin,
which is extracted from the nut, is used in foods as natural coloring agent, and also in the leather industry.
√ Other minor constituents in the areca nut alkaloids, in terms of the total weight of the nut, is about 1.6%,
which are comprise arecoline, arecolodine, arecaidine, guvacine, isoguvacine, and govacolidine; the
pharmacological and other uses of these alkaloids are as "antihelminithic, ophthalmic, antibacterial,
antidiabetic.
√ Areca nut husk is used to make many industrial products such as hardboard, insulation wool, cushions, paper,
paper board and activated carbon. The chemical composition of the areca husk consists of
18.75% furaldehyde which when distilled produces 5.5% furfural; it also yields xylitol.
√ Areca leaf sheaths are used to make ply-boards. Other miscellaneous uses of leaf sheath are to make caps,
eating bowls, vessels to keep palm wine, and artifacts.

Geographical distribution
√ Areca nut production in India is the largest in the world, as per FAO statistics for 2017, accounting for 54.07 %
of its world output, and is exported to many countries.
√ Within India, as of 2013-14, Karnataka produces 62.69 percent of the crop followed by Kerala and Assam; all
three states together account for 88.59 percent of its production.
√ In the other states of Meghalaya, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal, where it is also consumed, the crop is grown
in a very small area.
√ In Karnataka, in the Uttara Kannada District the crop is grown extensively.

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√ It grows from West Indies to the East Coast of Africa, and in Bangladesh, China, Sri Lanka and Malaya.

Climatic requirements
√ Arecanut is a tropical fruit plant.
√ The arecanut palm is capable of growing under a variety of climatic conditions.
√ The cultivation of arecanut is mostly confined to 28º north and south of the equator.
√ It grows well within the temperature range of 14ºC and 36ºC and is adversely affected by temperatures
below 10ºC and above 40ºC.
√ Extremes of temperature and wide diurnal variations are not conducive for the healthy growth of the palms.
√ Arecanut can be grown in areas receiving annual rainfall of 750 mm in Maidan parts of Karnataka to 4,500
mm in Malnad areas of Karnataka.
√ In areas where there is prolonged dry spell, the palms are irrigated.
√ Due to its susceptibility to low temperature, a good crop of arecanut cannot be obtained at an altitude of
more than 1000 m MSL.

Soil requirement
√ It is grown in soils such as laterite, red loam and alluvial soils.
√ It can also be grown on fertile clay loam soils.
√ Sticky clay, sandy, alluvial, brackish and calcareous soils are not suitable for arecanut cultivation.
√ The soil should be deep and well drained.

Varieties of Arecanut
√ There are few local varieties known by the name of the place where they are grown and are furnished below

Name of the local variety Place where grown

South Kanara Dakshina Kannada district and Kassargod district of
Kerala
Thirthahalli Malnad area of Karnataka
Sreevardhan Coastal Maharashtra
Mettupalayam Coimbatore District
Mahitnagar West Bengal
Kahikuchi Assam
Central Plantation Crops Research Institute, Regional Station, Vittal has released three
improved cultivars, they are:

Name of the cultivar Characters

Mangala An introduction from China (VTL-3) early
bearing, higher fruit set, higher yield (10 kg
ripe nuts/palm/year), semitall variety
Subangla A selection from Indonesia (VTL-11), yield
17.5 kg of nuts/palm at the age of 10 years.

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 Sreemangala A selection from Singapore (VTL-170), yields
16.5 kg/palm at the 10th year.

Propagation
√ The arecanut palm is commonly propagated by seednuts.
√ Collection of seednuts should be confined to high yielding palms which commence to bear early as well as
those which give more than 50% of fruit set.
√ From these selected mother palms, fully ripe nuts are alone collected.
√ All undersized and malformed nuts must be rejected. Heavier seednuts (above 35g) within a bunch are alone
selected, as they give higher percentage of germination and produce seedlings of better vigour than lighter
ones.

Season and Planting

√ In areas where South-West monsoon is severe, planting in the month of September-October is
recommended.
√ In other areas planting can also be done in the months of May-June.
√ Arecanut plants need adequate protection from exposure to the south western sun as they are susceptible to
sun-scorch.
√ Proper alignment of the palms in the plantation will minimise sun scorching of the stem.
√ In the square system of planting at a spacing of 2.7m x 2.7m, the north south line should be deflected at
angle of 35o towards west.
√ The outermost row of plants on the southern and south-western sides can be protected by covering the
exposed to with areca leaves or leaf sheaths or by growing tall and quick growing shade trees.
√ Pits of 90x90x90cm are dug and the pils are filled with a mixture of top soil, powdered cowdung and sand to
a height of 50 to 60cm from the bottom.
√ The seedlings are planted in the center of the pit, covered with soil to the collar level and pressed around.
√ A shade crop of banana can be raised to give protection to the seedlings from sunscroch.
√ The selected seednuts are sown immediately after harvest, 5cm apart in sand beds under partial shade with
their stalk ends pointing upwards.
√ Sand is spread over the nuts just to cover them.
√ The beds may be watered daily.
√ Germination commence in about 40 days after sowing and the sprouts can be transplanted to the second
nursery when they are about three months old. At this stage, the sprouts might have produced two to three
leaves.
√ Twelve to eighteen-month-old seedlings are to be selected and transplanted in the main field.
√ Seedlings with maximum number of leaves (five or above), minimum height and maximum girth are to be
selected for planting.
√ The selected seedlings should be removed with a ball of earth adhering to the roots for planting.

Manures and Fertilizer management

√ Annual application of 100 g N (220 g urea), 40 g P2O5 (200 g rock phosphate) and 140 g K2O (235 g muriate
of potash) in addition to 12 kg each of green leaf and compost per palm per year is recommended.

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√ The fertilizers are to be applied in two split doses. One third of the fertilizer is applied in May - June and two
third along with the organics during September-October.
√ Fertilizers are applied in basins around the palm dug to a depth of 15-20 cm and 0.5-1.0 m radius leaving 20
cm from the base of the palm.
√ After application, the soil is rolled up and covered with organic matter and soil.
√ Organic matter recycling
On an average, 5.5 to 6.0 tonnes of wastes are available from one ha of areca garden per year. This can be
effectively used as organic source of nutrients for areca palms.
√ But direct application of these wastes in the garden will take long time for decomposition and will not meet
the nutrient demand of the crop immediately.
√ Hence, these materials can be composted using earthworms effectively and used as organic manure in areca
gardens.
√ To prepare vermicompost, areca wastes are chopped into small pieces of 10 cm and heaped.
√ The heap should be mixed with cow dung slurry @ 10 kg / 100 kg of waste and kept for two weeks with
sprinkling water daily.
√ Then the chopped material is arranged in beds of one-meter width and convenient length.
√ Cement tanks or trenches can be used for this purpose.
√ A layer of 10-15 cm waste material is alternated with 2 cm layer of cow dung over which earthworms are
released at the rate of 1000 numbers per square meter.
√ The wastes are converted into fine granular, odourless vermicompost within 60 days.
√ During this period, the earthworm population is doubled. About 8 kg /palm/year of vermicompost meets the
crop nutrient demand in terms of nitrogen.
√ The two species of earthworms Eudrilus eugeniae and Eisenia foetida can be used.

Irrigation
√ Arecanut cannot withstand drought for a long time.
√ Being a perennial crop, once affected by water stress, it may require two-three years to regain the normal
vigour and yield.
√ The death of palms due to moisture stress is also not uncommon.
√ Irrigation intervals of 5 and 10 days were found superior throughout the season.
√ The quantity of water to be applied is about 200 lit per palm/irrigation.
√ During the summer, majority of the farmers face scarcity of water and it will be difficult to supply the
required water to the palms.
√ To overcome this problem, new irrigation methods were tried which can save water without affecting the
yield of arecanut.
√ They are sprinklers and drip irrigation methods. Sprinkler and drip irrigations can save 20 and 44 per cent
respectively of water.

Shading
√ The palms are highly susceptible for sun scorching.
√ The seedlings should be given protection against the direct exposure to sun.
√ This may be done either covering the plants with areca or coconut leaves or by raising crops like banana in
between two rows of arecanut.
√ Sun scorching is mostly seen during October – January.
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√ During this period even the stems of young palms have to be protected.
√ For this a quick growing shade plant can be planted on Southern and Western sides of the garden.

Harvesting and Processing

√ The stage of harvesting depends on the type of produce to be prepared for the market. The most popular
trade type of arecanut is the dried, wholenut knows as chali or kottapak.
√ Fully ripe, nine months old fruits having yellow to orange red colour is the best suited for the above purpose.
√ Ripe fruits are dried in the sun for 35 to 40 days on drive levelled ground.
√ For drying dehusking, sometimes fruits are cut longitudinally into two halves and sundried for about 10 days,
the kernals are scooped out and given a final drying.
√ Another form of processing is by making Kalipak.
√ The nuts of 6 to 7 months maturity with dark green colour are dehusked cut into pieces and boiled with
water of dilute extract from previous boiling, a kali coating is given and dried finally.
√ Kali is the concentrated extract obtained from boiling 3 to 4 batches of Kalipak.
√ Many varieties of scented suparis are now prepared by blending the dried, broken bits of arecanut with
flavour mixtures and packed.

Yield
√ More than 10 kg of ripe nuts per palm at the 10th year is considered as normal yield in any plantation.

14 Plant protection
14.1 Important pests affecting arecanut
Pest Symptoms Control Measures
Mites (Raoiella indica) Adults and young ones suck the lower Spray the lower surface of leaves
surfaces of the leaves, causing them to with dicofol 0.05%
(Oligonychus indicus) turn yellow and bronzed in appearance
Spindle bug Adults and young ones suck the sap from Place 2 g of phorate granules taken
the tender spindle resulting in loss of in perforated polybags in the inner
(Calvalhoia arecae) vigour and consequent death most leaf axils.
Inflorescence caterpillar Caterpillars feed on the flowers and Infected spadices may be forced
clamp the inflorescence into a wet mass open and sprayed with malathion
(Tirathaba mundella) of frass with silky threads 0.05%

14.2 Diseases and control measures of arecanut

Diseases Symptoms Control Measures
Koleroga or mahili Water-soaked lesions appearing on the Spray 1% Bordeaux mixture twice
nut surface near the perianth spread over at 45 days interval during
(Phytophthora arecae.) the other parts giving the nut a dark green monsoon.
colour. Infected nuts shed without
perianth.

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 Bud rot Affected spindle appear yellow, later Early removal of the infected tissue
changing to brown and finally the whole and treat the healthy tissue with
(Phytopththora spindle rots. Bordeaux paste. Drench the crown
palmivora) with 1% Bordeaux mixture as a
prophylactic measure.
Anabe roga Small brown irregular patches appear on Provide better drainage, isolate
the stem and a brownish exudate oozes the affected palms by trenches,
(Gonoderma luciderm) out from these patches drench with 0.3% captain.
Yellow leaf disease Leaves become yellow, smaller, stiff and Regular manuring, ensure
pointed, crown gets reduced, palm drainage, grow cover crops,
(Mycoplasm like remains stunted with few or no nuts. remove the affected palms.
organisms)

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