Cultivation
Agronomic Requirements
Cinnamon is a hardy plant which can grow well in almost all types of soils under a wide verity of tropical conditions. In Sri Lanka it is cultivated under varying conditions ranging from semi-dry to wet zone conditions and soils varying from silver sand to loamy and lateritic to gravelly soils of Galle, Matara Kalutra, and Rathnapura Districts. The most suitable temperature is between 250C and 300C. Rainfall should be in the region of 1,875 - 3,750 mm. Generally, cinnamon does not thrive in the drier parts of the low-country. It is found as a forest tree at 300 – 350m above sea level.
The quality of bark is greatly influenced by the soil and factors. The best quality cinnamon is produced on white silicacious sandy soils like the ‘silver sands’ of Negombo District. Yield is higher in order soils but quality is coarser than in sandy soils.
Recommended VaritiesThere are eight cinnamon species in Sri Lanka. Among them only Cinnamomum zealanicum is grown commercially. Currently ten cinnamon selections have been identified and those selections are under evaluation in different agro climatic zones.
Cinnamon is a hardy plant which can grow well in almost all types of soils under a wide verity of tropical conditions. In Sri Lanka it is cultivated under varying conditions ranging from semi-dry to wet zone conditions and soils varying from silver sand to loamy and lateritic to gravelly soils of Galle, Matara Kalutra, and Rathnapura Districts. The most suitable temperature is between 250C and 300C. Rainfall should be in the region of 1,875 - 3,750 mm. Generally, cinnamon does not thrive in the drier parts of the low-country. It is found as a forest tree at 300 – 350m above sea level.
The quality of bark is greatly influenced by the soil and factors. The best quality cinnamon is produced on white silicacious sandy soils like the ‘silver sands’ of Negombo District. Yield is higher in order soils but quality is coarser than in sandy soils.
Recommended VaritiesThere are eight cinnamon species in Sri Lanka. Among them only Cinnamomum zealanicum is grown commercially. Currently ten cinnamon selections have been identified and those selections are under evaluation in different agro climatic zones.
