What are the requirements for growing Betel (Piper betle L.) plants?

Classification of Betel Plant (Piper betle L.)

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Divisio: Spermathophyta
• Subdivision: Angiosperms
• Class: Dicotyledonae
• Order: Urticales
• Family: Piperaceae
• Genus: Piper
• Species: Piper betle L.

Other names for Betel Plant (Piper betle L.) in several areas:

Sumatra: ranub (Aceh), lemongrass (Gayo), lahina (Nias), chili (Mentawai), sireh, sirih, betel nut (Palembang, Minangkabau), canbai plant (Lampung). Javanese: seureuh (Sundanese), sedah, suruh plant (Javanese), sere piper (Madura).

Description of the Betel Plant (Piper betle L.)

Betel is a type of shrub plant. This type of plant can be found in gardens and home yards. For plant propagation, it is often done using cuttings or transplants.

Most people grow betel plant besides being a complement to the garden, it is also intended for the purposes of a toga (family medicinal plant). The part of the plant that is often used is the leaf.

Betel is a plant that grows vines and rests on other tree trunks, its height can reach 5 - 15 m. Soft woody betel stem, round, segmented, grooved, grayish green.

Betel leaf is a single leaf, grows alternately. The base of the leaf is asymmetrical or slightly rounded, the tip of the leaf is tapered, the edges and surface of the leaf are flat, the pinnate is pinnate. Leaf color varies, from yellow, green to dark green.

Betel leaf smells aromatic. The flowers are arranged in the form of grains, bent over, 5 - 15 cm long, individually at the end of the branches and in the axillary of the leaves. The fruit is a buni fruit, round, fleshy, yellow and green in color, connecting to become elliptical. Seeds are round. Betel plants are divided into several types based on leaf shape, aroma and taste.

These types are Javanese betel (dark green leaves and less sharp taste), betel banda (large leaves, dark green with yellow in several parts, and stronger taste and smell), betel cloves (small, yellowish leaves and tastes like cloves), black betel (very strong taste and is used as a mixture of various medicines), yellow betel and red betel. The type of betel chewed with areca nut is usually light green and tastes less spicy.

Requirements for growing betel plants (Piper betle L.)

Betel plants can grow well in areas with moderate to wet climates. Betel can be found from the lowlands to the highlands with an altitude of 1,000 m above sea level.

The betel plant likes places with full sun. Betel can grow on various types of soil with a moderate structure. It is better if betel is planted in soil that is fertile, humic, rich in nutrients and loose.

Betel Plant Cultivation (Piper betle L.)

Land Preparation for Betel Plants (Piper betle L.)

The land to be planted with betel is cleared of weeds and rocks, and hoeed with a depth of 20 cm. After processing, the beds are made, then a planting hole is made with a size of 80 cm x 40 cm x 60 cm.

Spacing 2 m x 2 m or 2.5 m x 2.5 m. One month before planting, each planting hole is given 0.5 kg of manure and stirred evenly. To support the growth of stems and tendrils, betel plants need standing trees, both dead and living.

For living stands, dadap, moringa, horse or kapok wood can be used. Stand plants should be planted about 15 cm from the betel plant so that the betel roots are not disturbed.

The planting medium affected the growth of the number of internodes, the number of leaves and the number of betel roots (Table 1).

Table 1. Effect of media on the growth of Piper miniatum Bl. the results of the bundle at week 14

Vegetative propagation media	Number of roots			Number of sections			Number of Leaves
	R1	R2	R3	R1	R2	R3	R1	R2	R3
Compost (1)	1.5f	11d	14.5c	12d	15c	14c	15c	18b	20b
Forest Humus (2)	2,4f	15c	19a	16c	19a	21a	16b	19b	26a
Husk + (1) (2)	2.0f	17b	19a	14c	16c	19.8c	15c	17b	24a
Garden Land	1.0f	5e	6.5e	4e	5,3e	6,7e	5e	7e	8d

Note: The same letter is not significantly different in the Duncan test at-5%. Source: Priyono and Jamal, (2008).

Preparation of Seeds Betel Plants (Piper betle L.)

Betel seedlings are carried out using tendril cuttings. It is better if the tendrils that will be used as seeds have issued many and long roots.

The tendrils are cut 30-50 cm long. Tendril cuttings are planted in polybags that have been filled with a planting medium in the form of a mixture of soil and manure with a ratio of 2: 1. Watering is done 1-2 times a day.

The nursery area is shaded. The cuttings will take root and be ready to be transferred to the planting area after 3-4 weeks of age. The technique of red betel plant propagation by means of grafts carried out at CV. INDMIRA is managed to produce roots or shoots before being separated from the parent.

Efforts to do the propagation technique by grafting on the Red Betel plant require skill and research, in contrast to grafting hard stems which is done by first cutting the stems for Red Betel, there is no need to injure the hard stems.

Just do it simply like what will be used for grafting red betel in the form of soil, sand and compost with a ratio of 3: 1: 3.This medium should be given a little water so that it is easy to stick (unite) on the stalk or stem of red betel and stem grafts in the sixth and sixth book. end of the stem (Gustiyudha, 2009).

Planting Betel Plants (Piper betle L.)

Planting should be done at the beginning of the rainy season. The seeds in the polybags are selected with good and uniform growth. Seedlings are transferred to the prepared planting holes by tearing off one side of the polybag.

The soil around the seedlings is compacted for firm growth. The seeds that have been planted are watered with sufficient water.

Maintenance

Fertilization Betel Plants (Piper betle L.)

We recommend that fertilizing the betel plant only use manure. Manure from chicken manure will result in yellowish leaves, while cow or buffalo manure will produce fresh green leaves.

If chemical fertilizers are used, urea is given at a dose of 50 kg / ha at planting and 50 kg / ha after the plants are 4 months old. TSP fertilizer is given at planting time at a dose of 150 kg / ha.

KCl fertilizer is also given at the time of planting at a dose of 200 kg / ha. To help the growth of branches and leaves, foliar fertilizers can be given.

Weeding Betel Plants (Piper betle L.)

Weeding should be done regularly every 1.5-2 months.

Pests and Diseases

Growth disturbances caused by diseases and pests are almost absent in betel plant cultivation. Harvest and Post Harvest Harvest can be done after the plant is a year old or according to needs.

Harvesting is done by picking old leaves from the side branches. Betel leaves are generally used fresh. The only post-harvest activities carried out are washing.