The genus Cinnamomum

propagation is possible through cutting and layering but it is not practiced as such
plants produce thinner bark of lesser quality. Ripe fruits are collected from selected
mother trees having thick bark and good aroma. Such trees are covered with nets in order
to protect the fruits from birds, which are attracted to cinnamon fruits. Fruits are
harvested at full ripening (when they become bluish black in colour), heaped for two
or three days to allow the pericarp to rot, and are then washed in water to remove the
fruit wall. Seeds, freed from the pericarp, are dried in the shade and sown immediately
in seedbeds. The viability of seeds is lost rapidly, and storing even for a few days may
result in drastic reduction in germination.
However, seeds stored at 15–20 °C maintain viability a little longer. By this treatment
the seed moisture content decreases slowly, reducing pathogen activity and slowing down
the metabolic processes. Osmoconditioning of seeds is one way to increase seed viability
by soaking seeds in an osmoticum solution (KNO 3, H 2O, PEG 6000) before planting
(Nursandi et al., 1990). Darwati and Hasanah (1987) carried out seed germination studies
and reported that fruits harvested when their pericarps turned black produced seeds with
higher dry weight and gave higher germination percentage, greater seedling vigour and
more uniformity in growth.
Nursery and planting
Indonesian Cassia (Indonesian Cinnamon) 187
Raised nursery beds, 1 m wide are prepared in fertile, shaded areas. Artificial shade is
provided if necessary, for which plaited palm leaves can be used. Seeds are sown at
a spacing of 5 5 cm and at a depth of 1 cm. Seeds germinate in 5–15 days and when
seedlings are about two-months old they are transplanted to polybags in a soil and dung
mixture. Alternatively seeds can be sown at a wider spacing of 20–25 cm and plants can
be left in the bed until they are ready for field planting after 10–12 months. Seedlings
are hardened by the gradual removal of shade. The polybag seedlings have a definite
advantage and give much higher field establishment.
Spacing adopted in field planting varies, but the common practice is to leave 1m
spacing between plants. Spacing is a compromise between two factors. Plants should be
close enough to encourage formation of tall, straight trunks with as few branches as possible.
At the same time, planting too close may lead to reduction in bark thickness, and
hence spacing should be wide enough to encourage thicker bark formation (Dao et al.,
1999). Pits of 30 30 30 cm are usually used, in which the polybag seedlings are
planted. Seedlings growing on beds should be lifted with a ball of earth around the
roots and planted in pits. Damage to the root system predisposes plants to infection by
Phytophthora cinnamomi. In the Sumatera region Tephrosia candida is recommended as
a nurse crop. This may be sown six months ahead of planting cassia in rows about 1m
apart. Cassia seedlings are planted in Tephrosia rows after digging pits. Tephrosia is
cut later and spread in the inter spaces. Intercropping with groundnut, ginger etc. is
practiced during the first one or two years.
Studies carried out by Usman (1999) indicated that spacing treatments had little
effect on the yield of bark except in one particular year when wider spacing produced
a higher bark yield (Table 7.1). This was consistent with girth size that was increased
by wider spacing. The highest total yield per plant was 1.21 and 3.40 kg per tree,
respectively, by employing the cut and peel methods of bark extraction. This yield was
equivalent to 1.45 and 4.14 t dry bark/ha (population base of 1200 trees/ha) obtained
from the cut and peel methods, respectively. There is no significant effect due to fertilizer