BLACK PEPPER

Varieties: 

Panniyur series (1 to 8), Karimunda, Kottanadan, Narayakodi, Kalluvally, Arakkulam Munda, Malabar Garbled, and Vellanamban. 

Selection of site: 

• Choose a location with well-drained soil and partial shade. 
• Ensure adequate irrigation facilities are available. 

Selection of mother vines: 

Select mother vines that show healthy growth, high productivity, and disease resistance. 

Selection of seed cuttings: 

• Choose healthy and disease-free vines for obtaining cuttings. 
• The cuttings should have 3–5 nodes and be taken from healthy, mature vines. 

Nursery techniques: 

• Prepare nursery beds with good drainage and rich organic content. 
• Plant selected cuttings in polybags filled with a mix of soil, sand, and farmyard manure in a 2:1:1 ratio. 
• Provide adequate shade and water regularly. 

Selection of seedlings: 

Select vigorous and healthy seedlings that are 12–18 months old for transplanting in the main field. 

Field planting: 

• Plant pepper vines near shade-providing support trees such as silver oak or erythrina. 
• Dig pits of size 60 cm x 60 cm x 60 cm, fill with topsoil, and plant cuttings or rooted seedlings at the center of the pit. 
• Ensure proper spacing of 2 m x 2 m for optimal growth.

• Apply organic manures like farmyard manure or compost at 10 kg per vine annually. 
• Fertilize adult vines with NPK (90:60:120 g/vine/year) in two split doses—once during May–June and again during September–October. 

• Irrigate black pepper vines during dry periods, especially from December to May. 
• Drip irrigation is recommended to conserve water. 
• Ensure proper drainage during heavy rains to prevent waterlogging 

• Keep the field weed-free and mulch the base of the vines to retain soil moisture. 
• Train vines to grow on the support trees by tying them at regular intervals. 

• Prune the vines annually to remove unwanted shoots and improve productivity. 

  Intercropping and mixed cropping: 

• Black pepper can be intercropped with arecanut, coffee, coconut, or banana. 
• Ensure the intercrops are adequately spaced and fertilized to prevent competition for nutrients

NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCIES AND REMEDIES:  

1. Nitrogen Deficiency: 

Symptoms: Stunted growth and yellowing of older leaves. 
Corrective Measures: Apply urea @ 50–100 g/vine/year or foliar spray with 2% urea solution. 

2. Potassium Deficiency: 

Symptoms: Yellowing of leaf margins and scorching. 
Corrective Measures: Apply muriate of potash (MOP) @ 100 g/vine/year. 

3. Calcium Deficiency: 

Symptoms: Deformed young leaves and poor fruit set. 
Corrective Measures: Apply lime @ 500 g/vine once every 2–3 years. 

4. Magnesium Deficiency: 

Symptoms: Yellowing between leaf veins, especially on older leaves. 
Corrective Measures: Apply magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) @ 50 g/vine. 

Pest Control:  

1. Pollu Beetle (Longitarsus nigripennis): 

Control Measure: Spray neem oil (0.5%) or chlorpyrifos (0.05%) during pre-monsoon and post-monsoon periods. 

2. Nematodes: 

Control Measure: Apply organic amendments like neem cake @ 1 kg/vine/year and maintain proper sanitation. 

 Disease Control:  

1. Foot Rot (Phytophthora capsici): 

Control Measure: Drench the base of the vines with 1% Bordeaux mixture or copper oxychloride solution. 

2. Quick Wilt: 

Control Measure: Apply Trichoderma harzianum-based formulations to control fungal infections. 

3. Anthracnose: 

Control Measure: Spray with carbendazim (0.1%) or mancozeb (0.25%) to prevent and treat leaf and fruit infections.

Harvesting: 

• Black pepper vines generally begin yielding 2–3 years after planting. 
• Harvesting typically occurs from November to March when berries turn from green to yellowish orange. 

Steps for Harvesting: 

1. Pluck mature spikes by hand or using a small pruning tool. 
2. Separate the berries from the spikes after harvesting. 
3. Spread the harvested berries on clean mats or drying platforms and sun-dry them for 7–10 days until they turn black and achieve a moisture content of 10–12%. 

Yield: 

• The yield of black pepper varies depending on factors like variety, climatic conditions, and farming practices. 
• Under proper management, vines can produce 2–3 kg of dried pepper per plant annually.