print the page
Introduction
Cassia and Cinnamon are produced from the same tree. Cinnamon is in
fact the dried bark of cassia tree. In India, the cassia tree is not a success
as it does not bear much fruit. Therefore only its bark is being produced
and used. Cassia is produced in India in very small quantity. The spice
is used in household and also in the traditional ayurvedic medicines. Cinnamon
powder is widely used as an important ingredient of curry powder (garam
masala). The economic produces of cinnamon are bark and leaves, which are
valued for oil content. Cinnamaldehyde and eugenol are the important components.
The annual demand for these spices in the country is about 3,500 tonnes
while the domestic production is only about 400 tonnes. India produces real cassia from Cinnamomum cassia and wild cassia bark from C. tamala.
However, cassia is not produced at all in India on a commercial scale.
India imports about 2,500 M.T. of cassia mainly from China, Taiwan, Indonesia,
and Singapore. |
|
 |
Propagation
Even though the crop is cross-pollinated, seeds are the best source
of propagation. Terminal cuttings are also used as propagation material,
and their efficiency increases when dipped for 1 min with IBA or IAA 2,000
ppm; rooting increased by 73.2 and 65.1%, respectively, the maximum root
length being 6.3 cm The mouth of poly-bag needs to be closed with another
polybag to prevent moisture loss; rooting takes place 60-90 days after sowing,
maximum success was obtained from cultivar SL 5. Air layering done in July
gave 87.5% rooting compared to 50% rooting when the same is done in November
Nutrient Management
Application of Seradix B at the girdle, covered with moist coir dust
and wrapped with polythene sheet produced good air-layers in 2-3 months
Harvesting
Harvesting can be done 5 years after planting, by selecting stems 1.5
to 2 m long with 2.0-2.5 cm diameter for cropping. Leaves and tender twigs
can be steam-distilled for 1 or 2 days, or oil-distilled lasting for 7-8
under 6.80 kg (15 lb) pressure The produce is grouped/catergorized as quills/quillings/featherings
and chips, depending on the length and shape of the bark
Varietal Improvement
According to the Department of Agricultural Research and Education,
ICAR, Government of India, four accessions of Cinnamon cassia were
added to the germplasm. Among Cinnamomum cassia accessions, A1 and
C1 had high bark oleoresin (10.2 and 10.5%), and D1, D3 and D5 had high
bark oil (4.7, 4.9 and 4.3%) with high cinnamaldehyde content (86.5, 90.5,
and 85.5%).