BLACK PEPPER

The botanical name of black pepper is “Piper nigrum”. It is one of the most popular spices and is known as “King of spices” or “Black gold”. Kerala, Karnataka, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu, and Andaman and Nicobar Islands are the major states where black pepper is grown. India is the number one producer, consumer and exporter of black pepper. It also has health benefits as it has anti-biotic properties. It helps to improve digestion, prevents cold and coughs, helps in skin treatment and prevents skin related cancer.

It is cultivated in wide range of soil i.e. sandy loam soil, clay loam soil and red loam soil. The soil which is rich in organic content and well drained is ideal for black pepper cultivation. The soil having pH ranging between 5.5-7.0 is suitable for farming.

Panniyur 1: It gives an average yield of 5qtl/acre. It contains 5.3% piperine content, 11.8% oleoresin content and 3.5% oil content.
 
Panniyur 2: It gives an average yield of 10qtl/acre. It contains 6.6% piperine content, 10.9% oleoresin content and 3.4% oil content. 

Panniyur 3: It gives an average yield of 8qtl/acre. It contains 5.2% piperine content, 12.7% oleoresin content and 3.1% oil content.
 
Panniyur 4: It gives an average yield of 5qtl/acre. It contains 4.4% piperine content.
 
Panniyur 5: It gives an average yield of 4-5qtl/acre. It contains 5.3% piperine content, 12.3% oleoresin content and 3.8% oil content. 

Sreekara: It gives an average yield of 10qtl/acre. It contains 5.1% piperine content, 13.0% oleoresin content and 6.0% oil content. 

Subhakara: It gives an average yield of 10qtl/acre. It contains 3.4% piperine content, 12.4% oleoresin content and 7.4% oil content. 

Panchmi: It gives an average yield of 11qtl/acre. It contains 4.7% piperine content, 12.5% oleoresin content and 3.4% oil content. 

Pournami: It gives an average yield of 10qtl/acre. It contains 4.1% piperine content, 13.8% oleoresin content and 3.4% oil content. 
 

Land should be prepared in the month of April-May. Land is prepared by removing weeds from the field.

Time of sowing:
Planting is mainly done in May-June month.
 
Spacing:
Use plant to plant spacing of 2.5m X 2.5m.

Method of sowing:
Propagation method is used.
 

Seed rate:
694 plants are required for planting in per acre land.
 

Propagation is mainly done through cuttings. In March-April month, propagation is done. The cutting of having 2-3 nodes is done and is put in the bamboo baskets or polythene bags filled with soil.
 

Fertilizer Requirement (gm/plant/year)

Application of urea@45gm, SSP@125gm and MOP@100gm should be done for the plant having an age of 3 years or more. For one year old plant, use 1/3rd dose of fertilizer and for two years old plant, use ½ dose of fertilizer.

Irrigation is required from November-December to end-March month. Irrigation helps in increasing pepper yield upto 50%. In winter irrigation is given at the interval of 1 week and in summer irrigation is done after every 2^nd day.
 

2 diggings are required; i.e. first is given in May-June month and second is given in October-November month. Weeding and earthing up is required for the better growth and yield of the crop. It will also help to increase soil aeration.

• Pest and their control:
  

Nematode: It attacks on the roots of the plants and form root knots on the roots of the plants.

Treatment: To protect the plants from nematode apply carbofuran@10gm/creeper should be done in the month of May-June or September to October.
 

Scale insect: The symptom is drying of creepers.

Treatment: Monocrotophos or Dimethoate @2ml/ltr is used to get rid of the scale insect pest.
 

Thrips: The symptoms are curling of leaves edges which ultimately die off.

Treatment: Spraying of Monocrotophos or Dimethoate @2ml/ltr is used to get rid of thrips.
 

• Disease and their control:

Phytophthora plant rot: It infects the leaves, spikes and young branches of the plant.

Treatment: Spraying of Bordo mixture is done to get rid of this disease.
 

Harvesting is done when any one berry in cluster turns into scarlet red color. Generally picking is done after 6-7 months of planting. Harvesting of spikes is done when almost 90% berries are matures. Harvesting is done from November to March month. Mainly harvesting is done through hand picking.