Njallani (Green Gold)
A farmer-developed selection prized for very high nutrient uptake, hybrid vigour and heavy capsule bearing, widely grown under high-density (2 x 2 m) spacing.
Quick facts
- Type
- Rhizome/sucker planting material (farmer-developed, Vazhukka type)
- Season
- All seasons
- Maturity period
- First bearing in 2–3 years
- Expected yield
- Very high, among the highest reported for any cardamom selection
- Suitable soil
- Loam
- Release
- Farmer-origin selection from Idukki, Kerala, commonly credited to grower Sebastian Joseph Njallani — no formal ICAR/ICRI release notification
About this variety
Njallani, marketed and widely known as "Green Gold", is a Vazhukka-type cardamom selection that originated not from a formal ICAR or ICRI breeding programme but from a grower — commonly credited to Sebastian Joseph Njallani — in the cardamom hills of Idukki, Kerala, who identified an unusually high-yielding plant and multiplied it. It is consistently described in horticultural sources as having very high nutrient absorption capacity (attributed to a high root cation-exchange capacity), hybrid vigour, strong disease tolerance in grower reports, and heavy capsule bearing commonly cited at 120–160 capsules per panicle — a genuinely large number against most named releases. Despite not carrying an official variety notification, it has become one of the most widely planted selections in parts of Kerala's cardamom belt, typically at close, high-density spacing (2 × 2 m) to make the most of its vigour.
Key characteristics
Sowing & cultivation
- Spacing2 x 2 m high-density spacing is standard for this selection, closer than the 2.5 x 2.5 m used for many traditional varieties
- FertilizerA balanced NPK dose while young, moving to a higher, monsoon-split dose once bearing — its reported high nutrient-uptake capacity may reward attentive feeding more than most selections
Soil & climate
Soil
- Suitable soil
- Deep forest loam under shade, pH 5.5–6.5
Yield & maturity
Maturity period
First bearing in 2–3 years
Expected yield
Very high, among the highest reported for any cardamom selection
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
Pest & disease considerations
Advantages & considerations
Why farmers may choose it
- Among the highest capsule-bearing counts reported for any cardamom selection (commonly 120–160 capsules/panicle), a genuine yield edge where grower reports are corroborated.
- Widely proven in commercial farmer fields across Kerala's cardamom belt over many years, not just at a research station.
Things to consider
- Not an official ICAR/ICRI release — its yield and vigour claims rest mainly on grower reports rather than independently replicated trial-station data.
- No disease-resistance trait is formally documented; its reported good vigour does not remove the need for standard Katte, capsule-rot and rhizome-rot management.
Suitable regions
Originally identified by a farmer in the cardamom hills of Idukki, Kerala, and now widely grown across the Kerala–Karnataka cardamom belt — not an official ICAR/ICRI release.
- Kerala
- Karnataka
Frequently asked questions
Is Njallani an official government-released cardamom variety?
No — it is a farmer-developed selection, originally identified and multiplied by a grower in Idukki, Kerala, rather than released through ICAR-IISR or the Indian Cardamom Research Institute. It is nonetheless very widely planted commercially for its reported high yield and vigour.
Sourced from: 'Njallani' (Green-Gold) — National Innovation Foundation, Njallani Green Cardamom — Graamya. editorial policy.