Scientific Plantcare Methods - First Year

First Year: 

February - July : 

• Soil Testing: During the month of March / April, test the soil for the PH, Organic Carbon percentage & Micro Nutrients. 
• Make a conical incision in different areas in the field and take out a section of the soil like you slice a piece of bread. collect the same in different packages if your field is vast or if there's a vast difference in soil type of plant growth in different areas of the field. Else, you may take different samples from different areas, combine the same and shade dry the soil and pack in aerated container before sending for soil test. 
• Contact details of Soil test labs: 
• http://www.indianspices.com/quality-evaluation-laboratory
•  http://www.nabllab.co.in/
• http://www.vimta.com/

• Shade Regulation: There should be a 40% - 50% shade in the field. Shade needs to be regulated before taking the planting pits in the field. Please keep in mind that the shade regulation required is advised on the presumption that the field is not South/South-West facing and that the same has a gentle slope. In case your field faces South / South- West direction, or if your field has a steep terrain, you will need to increase the shade percentage accordingly. This is done so that the summer heat intensity is reduced and so that the plants do not wilt due to the heat.

• Planting Pits: The pits for replanting may be taken once you get the summer showers and before the month of April. 

• Pit Dimension: The pit should be a minimum of 90cm X 90 cm and with a minimum depth of 45 cm. The soil obtained while digging the pit should be set on the sides of the pit.

• Distance between plants: There should be a minimum of  10 ft distance between the pits and the rows. There are planters who insist on 11 ft distance - however, 10 ft is found to be ideal for the plant and the economics. This way, you will have a minimum of 1000 plants per hectare (435 plants per acre)

• Covering the pits: Once the summer showers start in the month of May, you may fill 2/3 of the pit with the soil taken while digging the same. Above this, you may mix the balance soil with about 2 Kg of organic manure/dried and powdered cow dung and make a cone of about 15 cm from the surface of the pit. 
• Usage of Lime / Dolomet: Depending on the PH value of the soil: 
• PH Level above 5.5 - 250 Gm
• PH level 5-5.5 - 500 Gm
• PH Level <5 - 1 Kg  ; may be added to one planting pit. This should be spread evenly on the surface of the pit. If using lime, try to make them fresh on the field than buying ready mix from the shop. 

Planting 

• Sapling: A sapling with a minimum of  10 cm diameter at the base (bulb) and with two new tillers of about 15 cm may be selected for planting. Please give a few minutes to selecting the sapling, since this is going to decide whether the plant and the field remains healthy and gives your yield as per your expectation. Please look for spots on the stem or decay signs on the leaves - if you find any, discard them. 
• Care for the sapling: Dip the base of the sapling in 1:50 diluted Pseudomonas. 
• Planting: Before planting, make a small hole, and add about 20-25 grams of VAM (vesicular arbuscular mycorrhiza) and the same amount of Carbosulfan before planting the saplings. There should be soil upto half of the bulb at the bottom of the sapling. Please note that the sapling has to stay with the support of a stick and not on its own. You should not cover the bulb in an attempt to ensure that the sapling is standing on it's own - this will result in decay of the bulb. Depending on the soil moisture level, complete the planting activity by the end of May or first week of June. 
• Support for the sapling: You should provide a support for the sapling - ideally of the same length as the sapling and with 2-3 ties, so that the sapling doesn't fall off in heavy wind / rain
• Mulching:  The entire base of the sapling (the whole pit surface) should be mulched with dry leaves. Do not attempt to cover the base using green leaves - they tend to radiate heat while degenerating. 
• Shade tree planting : This is also the ideal time to plant shade trees and they get around a year and half of sunlight before the plants cover the area.