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About Arecanut: 

• The arecanut palm is the source of common chewing nut, popularly known as betel nut or supari. 
• It is one of the important commercial crops grown in India.
• Required climatic condition
  • The cultivation of arecanut is mostly confined to 28º north and south of the equator. 
  • Temperature: It grows well within the temperature range of 14ºC and 36ºC.
  • Soil: The largest area under the crop is found in gravelly laterite soils of red clay type. It can also be grown on fertile clay loam soils. Sticky clay, sandy, alluvial, brackish and calcareous soils are not suitable for arecanut cultivation.
  • Rain: It can be grown in areas receiving annual rainfall of 750 mm.
  • Altitude: It can be cultivated upto an altitude of 1000 m from mean sea level.
• India is the largest producer of arecanut and at the same time largest consumer also.

Major states cultivating this crop are Karnataka (40%), Kerala (25%), Assam (20%), Tamil Nadu, Meghalaya and West Bengal.

Q1: What is Loam soil?

It is a type of soil that is a mixture of sand, silt, and clay. Loam soil holds nutrients and has a texture that retains water long enough for plant roots to access it.

Source: Tirthahalli areca emerges best variety among nuts grown in Karnataka