Agronomy of Betelvine Crop

Abstract

Betelvine (Piper betle L.) cultivation and consumption of betel leaves are traditional and widespread practices in India. The leaves have some medicinal values. For the small and marginal farmers, unable to produce sufficient food on their tiny holdings, and whose labour resources (including family labours) are underemployed, betelvine cultivation may provide a means to put their underutilized labour to productive use enabling them to make ends meet. Betelvine is mainly cultivated in an artificial structure called boroj which is made with locally available cheap materials. Betel leaves are mainly used for mastication as mouth freshener. For successful production of betel leaves, proper manuring, water management and microclimate are important. Betel leaves have some export potentiality also. The agricultural, industrial, medicinal and allied potentialities of the crop are discussed.