Pepper (Piper nigrum L.

Piperaceae
Varieties:

[Link] 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7, Karimunda, Sreekara, Subhakara, Panchami,

[Link], IISR Thevam,

[Link] Malabar Excel, IISR Girimunda, IISR Sakthi, PLD-2.

 Lower elevation and less shady areas- Panniyur 1.

 Higher elevation and more shady areas – Karimunda.

 Inter cropping in Arecanut – Panniyur 5

Soil and climate:

Pepper is grown mainly as a rainfed crop. Pepper requires heavy rainfall (150 – 250 cm) high
humidity and warm [Link] best on virgin soils rich in humus content and the crop can be grown
at elevations up to 1500 m.

Season: June – December

Propagation:

Black pepper vines develop three types of aerial shoots, namely (a) primary stem with long
internodes, with adventitious roots which cling to the standards (b) runner shoots which originate from
the base of the vine and have long internodes which strike roots at each node and (c) fruit bearing
lateral branches. Cuttings are raised mainly from runner shoots, though terminal shoots can also be
used. Cuttings from lateral branches are seldom used since they develop a bushy habit. However, rooted
lateral branches are useful for raising bush pepper.

Production of rooted cuttings:

 Traditional method:Runner shoots from high yielding and healthy vines are kept coiled on
wooden pegs fixed at the base of the vine to prevent the shoots from coming in contact with soil
and striking roots. The runner shoots are separated from the vine during February-March and
after trimming the leaves, cuttings of 2-3 nodes each are planted either in nursery beds or in
polythene bags filled with fertile soil. Adequate shade has to be provided and the polythene
bags are to be irrigated frequently. The cuttings become ready for planting during May - June.
 Rapid multiplication method:An efficient propagation technique developed at Sri Lanka has
been modified for adoption in India for quick and easy multiplication of black pepper vines. In
this method, a trench of 45 cm depth, 30 cm width and convenient length is made. The trench is
filled with rooting medium comprising of forest soil, sand and farm yard manure in 1:1:1 ratio.
 Split halves of bamboo with septa or split halves of PVC pipes of 1.25-1.50 meter length and 8-
10 cm diameter provided with plastic septa at 30 cm intervals are fixed at 45∞ angle on a strong
support. Rooted cuttings are planted in the trench at the rate of one cutting for each bamboo
split. The lower portions of the bamboo splits are filled with rooting medium (preferably
weathered coir dust-farm yard manure mixture in 1:1 ratio) and the growing vine is tied to the
bamboo split in such a way so as to keep the nodes pressed to the rooting medium. The tying
can be done with dried banana leaf sheath fibers or coir rope. The cuttings are irrigated
regularly. As the cuttings grow, the bamboo splits are filled with rooting medium and each node
is pressed down to the rooting medium and tied. For rapid growth, a nutrient solution of urea (1
kg), super phosphate (0.75 kg), muriate of potash (0.5 kg) and magnesium sulphate (0.25 kg) in
250 litres of water is to be applied @ 0.25 litre per vine at monthly intervals.

When the vine reaches the top (3-4 months after planting of the cutting) the terminal bud is
nipped off and the vine is crushed at about three nodes above the base, in order to activate the
axillary buds. After about 10 days, the vine is cut at the crushed point and removed from the
rooting medium and cut between each node. Each cutting with the bunch of roots intact is
planted in polythene bags filled with fumigated potting mixture. Trichoderma @ one gram and
VAM @ 100 cc/kg of soil can be added to the potting mixture. Care should be taken to keep the
leaf axil above the soil. The polythenebags should be kept in a cool and humid place, or should
be covered with thin polythene (200 gauge) sheet to retain humidity. The buds start developing
in about 3 weeks and the polybags can then be removed and kept in shade.
The advantages of this method of propagation are rapid multiplication (1:40), well developed
root system, higher field establishment and vigorous growth as a result of better root system.
 Trench method:A simple, cheap and efficient technique for propagating black pepper from
single nodes of runner shoots taken from field grown vines has been developed at the institute.
A pit of 2.0 meter x 1.0 meter x 0.5 meter size is dug under a cool and shaded area. Single nodes
of 8-10 cm length and with their leaf intact, taken from runner shoots of field grown vines are
planted in polythene bags (25 cm x 15 cm, 200 gauge) filled at the lower half with a mixture of
sand, soil, coir dust and cow dung in equal proportion. The single nodes are to be planted in the
bags in such a way that their leaf axil is above the potting mixture. The polythene bags with the
planted single nodes are arranged in the pit. After keeping the bags in the pit, the pit should be
covered with a polythene sheet. This sheet may be secured in position by placing weights on the
corners. The cuttings should be watered at least five times a day with a rose can and the pit
should be covered with the polythene sheet immediately after watering. It is advisable to
drench the cuttings two-three times with copper oxychloride (2g/litre). After two-three weeks of
planting, the cuttings will start producing roots which are visible through the polythene bags.
After the initiation of roots the frequency of watering may be reduced to three-four times a day.
After about one month, new shoots start emerging from the leaf axil. At this stage it is advisable
to keep the pit open for about one hour per day so that the cuttings would harden and will not
dry when they are taken out of the pit. The cuttings can be taken out of the pit after two months
of planting and kept in a shaded place and watered twice a day. These cuttings will be ready for
field planting after about 2Ω months. By this method 80-85 per cent success can be obtained.
Foliar application of nutrient solution will also enhance the growth of the cuttings.
 Serpentine method:Cheaper propagation technique for production of rooted cuttings of black
pepper is serpentine layering. In a nursery shed with roofing sheet or shade net, rooted black
 pepper cuttings are planted in polythene bags holding about 500 g potting mixture, which will
serve as mother plants. As the plant grows and produces few nodes small polythene bags (20 x
10 cm) filled with potting mixture may be kept under each node. The node may be kept gently
pressed in to the mixture assuring contact with the potting mixture with the help of a flexible
twig such as mid rib of a coconut leaflet to enable rooting at that junction. Roots start growing
from the nodes and the cuttings keep on growing further. The process of keeping potting
mixture filled polythene bags at every node to induce rooting at each node is repeated. In three
months the first 10 to 12 nodes (from the mother plants) would have rooted profusely and will
be ready for harvest. Each node with the polythene bag is cut just below the rooted node and
the cut end is also buried into the mixture to induce more roots. Polythene bags filled with
solarized potting mixture or soil, granite powder and farmyard manure in 2:1:1 proportion is
recommended for producing disease free rooted cuttings. The rooted nodes will produce new
sprouts in a week time and will be ready for field planting in two-three months time. Daily
irrigation can be given with a rose can. On an average, 60 cuttings can be harvested per mother
plant in a year by this method.

Planting:

Slopes facing West and South should be avoided. Pits of 50 cm x 50 cm x 50 cm size are dug at a
spacing of 2 to 3 m in either direction (Panniyur 1 – 3 x 3 m). 5 to 10 kg of FYM/Compost is mixed with
top soil and the pits are filled. Rooted cuttings are planted in June – July @ two per standard like Silver
oak, Dadap and Jack. In multitier cropping system, standards should be planted at a spacing of 7 – 8 m.

Manuring:

Apply cattle manure or Compost @ 10 kg/vine just before the onset of South West monsoon. In
addition 100 g of N, 40 g of P and 140 g of K per vine are applied in two split doses in the months of May
– June and in September – October. Slaked lime at 500 g per vine is applied in alternate years during
May – [Link] Azospirillum @ 100 g/vine one month after the application of chemical fertilizers.
Integrated nutrient management – Inorganic N 50 % of the recommended dose + FYM 10 kg + 50 g
Azospirillum + 50 g Phosphobacteria + 200 g VAM per [Link] manures and fertilizers are applied
around the vine at a distance of 30 cm from the base and incorporated into the soil.

Irrigation:Protective irrigation in basins during December – May at 10 days interval.

Aftercultivation:

Two weedings are given during the months of June – July and at October – November. The
vines are to be trained to the standards. Prune excessive foliage of the standards and limit the height of
the standards to about 6 m. Spray NAA @ 40 ppm to increase the berry size.

Fruit drop:

The spike shedding can be reduced by foliar spray of Diammonium Phosphate 1.0 % four times viz.,
before flower initiation (May), during new leaves and flower emergence (June) before spike initiation
(July) and pinhead stage of berries (August).

Plant protection

Pests:
  Pollu Beetle and Leaf Caterpillars:Spray Quinalphos 25 EC 2 ml/lit once in July and again in
October.
 Leaf gall and thrips:Spraying monocrotophos 36 WSC 1.5 ml/lit or Dimethoate 30 EC @ 2 ml/lit
or Chlorpyriphos 2 ml/lit or Dichlorvos 76 WSC 1 ml/lit or Phosphomidan 40 SL @ 2 ml/lit three
rounds at monthly intervals starting from new flush formation.
 Top shoot borer:Top shoot borer can be controlled by spraying Monocrotophos or Quinalphos
(0.05%) on terminal shoots at monthly intervals (during July – October) to protect emerging new
shoots

Diseases:

Foot rot

Nursery:Apply trichoderma viride @ 1 g/kg of pot mixture. Mulch the pot mixture with 150 gauge
polythene sheet for 30 days and inoculate with Pseudomonas

Main field:

Any of the following formulation can be drenched in the soil twice (May – June and October –
November).

 Neem cake ½ kg per vine + Swabbing of Bordeaux paste upto 1 m from the ground level.
 Trichoderma viride @ 20 g/vine + FYM or Bordeaux mixture 1 % or Metalaxyl-Mancozeb @ 2
g/lit.
 Neem cake 2 kg per vine + 0.1% Metalaxyl (pre monsoon foliar spray and soil application).
 Pseudomonas fluorescens (50 g) (pre and post monsoon) + neem cake (2 kg) (post monsoon) +
metalaxyl 0.1 %.

Slow wilt: Apply Phorate 10 G @ 30 g or Carbofuran 3 G @ 100g per vine (May – June and September –
October) + Copper oxy Chloride @ 0.2 % (Soil drenching) or Potassium phosphonate @ 0.3% or
Metalaxyl @ 0.1 %

Anthracnose: Foliar spray with Bordeaux mixture @ 1 % or Mancozeb @ 0.2 %.

Nematode : Soil application Bacillus subtilis (BbV 57) or Pseudomonas fluorescens @ 10 g/vine is
recommended for the management of root knot and reniform nematode population in Black pepper.

Harvest:

Harvesting commences from third year onwards. The harvesting season is from November to
March. Harvest is done by hand picking the whole spikes when few berries in the spike start turning red.
The berries are separated and dipped in hot water (80°C) for one minute and sun dried for 7 to 10 days.

Yield:About 2 to 3 kg/vine/year.

Market information:

 Growing districts:Kanyakumari, Nilgiris, Kolli Hills, Lower pulneys

  Major markets in Tamil Nadu:Kanyakumari, Nagarkovil
 Preferred varieties:Tellichery, Alleppey and Malabar Garbled (MGI)
 Grade specification:Pungency and aroma

Bush Pepper:

Planting material: One year old lateral branches with 2-3 nodes with the bit of orthotropic portion
intact.

Planting: 3-5 well rooted cuttings per pit or pot

Manures and Manuring:

 1:0.5:2 g of NPK per pot at bi monthly intervals

 15 and 33 g of groundnut cake and neem cake per pit or pot.

Pruning: Pruning of hanging shoots to maintain the bushy nature, repeating at every two years interval.

Pepper production in Organic farming

Pepper cultivation play a key role in India’s exports. It is cultivated in Kerala,

Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. In Nature, agricultural practices pepper can be cultivated as main
crop as well as inter [Link] inputs from the harvested crop to be grown up to 25 m [Link]
Sloping areas take necessary precautions to prevent drainage of chemical cultivation land water
in to nature agriculture land.

Varieties :

Panniyur 1,2,3,4,5 Kirimunta, Kottanatan, Supakara, Panchami, Pournami, Ottappilakkal 1, Kalluvalli,

Palankotta, IISR Sakthi, IISR Dhevam, IISR kirimunta, IISR Malabar Excel and Utiran Kota.

Panniyur 1 variety is a hybrid variety. It spread well in the trees. It gives extra yield, rather than the other
varieties. Panniyur 5shadow tolerant variety. It is generally suitable to grow in arecanut gardens.

Panchami : 2828 kg of dried pepper / ha

Cirikara: 2677 kg of dried pepper / ha

Malabar Excel:2.78 kg of dried pepper / vine

Devam: 6.14 kg of dried pepper / vine

Kirimunta: 6.14 kg Green pepper / vine PLT -2

4.97 kg green / vine

Subhakara:4.2 kg Green pepper / vine

Pournamy: 4.7 kg Green pepper / vine

Soil and climate :

Pepper crop mountainous areas like Kanyakumari, Nilgiris, Keelbhavaniin Tamil Nadu, are
mostly cultivated. Grows well in well in drained soil. In clay, sandy lands, the crop does not grow well. If
the soil pH is between 4.5 to 6.6 is better. Pepper crop needed rain and high temperatures. Up to a
height of 1500 meters above sea levelmountains, where the crop grows well in the.

Season :

June – December the high quality pepper crop is cultivated in rainfed.

Breeding :

Pepper crop breeding was done by vein cutting method. One meter long pepper vein can be taken
with 2 or 3 nodes from the mother vein can be sown in polythene bags. After the transplantation, the
use of rooted cuttings. After the cutting gets root, the transplantation will be done.

Seed and planting :

Nursery production :

 In a area where a good source of shade with water drainage facility, prepare1 meter wide
and 5.6 meters long beds. After dig the soil prepare the beds. In each bed apply FYM 12 kg,
5 kg of vermin-compost, 250 gBio fertilizer mixed with 5 kg sand and 5 kg red soil.
 To choose the runner shoots grow on the base of the parent vine with desirable qualities.
Near the selected runner shoots, stick the support in the soil and bind the vine in to the
support. Do not allow the runner shoots to get root in the soil. In the month of February,
March with a 2-meter length of the runner shoots is to be cut from the mother vine and
remove. At the top of the one third of the runner shoots and bottom of the one third should
be removed and middle part will choose to prepare cutting. Young runner shoots and old
runner shoots should be avoided. Cut the shoot with 2-3 nodes to produce with a knife.
These stem piece’s bottom should be dipped 30 minutes with Panchagavya 3% solution and
then planting it in to the bed or polythene [Link] polythene bags (7x5-inch size), to fill with
a part of the fertile top soil, one part river sand, one part Vermi Compost is a mixture of cow
dung.
 One acre in the nursery beds supplying 250 gramsazhosPirillum, 250 grams of
phosphobacteria root internal fungaland then mix with [Link] holes need to be applied
before the application of the fertilizer mixture in bags. Beds or polythene bags after planting
stem cuttings pour enough water and put in a shade. Pour the desired amount of water to
the lawn [Link] the time of Developing small-budded, take 300 ml of panchagavyamix
with10 liters of water and pour once in 15 [Link] or bamboo, polythene bags lined
with polythene which sets shelters are arranged. The third week the stem cuttings rooted in
polythene bags and ready for planting.

Planting pepper and shrubs :

Spined drumstick, zucchini, Silver Oak and Shubabul actively promoted for climbing base tress
of pepper crop. When intercropping cultivation of jack, kamuku and coconut. Spineddrumstick, Zuchini
are cut stems used for planting. Plant this stems one or two months before planting of pepper vines.
Three or four years before planting seedlings Pepper vines, the climber tree seeddlings to be planted.

Bio-fertilizers and bio-regulators :

Well decomposed farmyard manure 12.5 t/ha, 5 tons of natural bioenergy fertilizer, 5 ton of Vermi
Compost and 1.25 ton well-composted coconut fiber manure should be applied. Alongside supplying
bio-manure, azhospirillum,phospobacteria, azitofactor and root internal fungal to be applied at the rate
of 25 kg each and Apply Trichodermaviride and Pseudomonas florescenceat 2.5 kg each/ha. Along this
apply 25kg of rock [Link] planting of stem cuttings in the pits aforementioned bio-fertilizer,
bio-organic fertilizer mixture and mix well to pit against the antibiotics to be applied at the rate of 40 kg.

Land preparation :

Sloping soil and water conservation measures in the areas of sufficient size to take when preparing to
land.

Planting :

 Recommended variety to be [Link] of Erythrina variety reduce the Nemotodes. In one pit
2 to 3 rooted stems can be planting during the rainy season in the months of June and July.
 To plant the support trees, 15 cm distance 50 cm distance 50 cm length and width dig the pits.
At the time of planting in the pits, apply each 10g Azospirillum,Phosphobacteria and root
internal fungal. Along with 25g Magnesium sulphate and 30g rock phosphate for each pit. For
one hectare we can plant 1600 stem cuttings with the spacing of 2.5x2.5 meters.

Crop management :

As the vines grow, to avoid the veins to touch the soil. So tied the vines in supporting trees.
Young veins affected the drought in summer time will be set around the [Link] the rooted vines
grow allow the sunlight and maintenance should be undertaken in order to grow straight.

At the stage of flowering, to control the insect and fungal attack, avoid excessive [Link] these cases,
the highest branches of the supporting trees to be cut and mulching pruned branches or use as bio
manure.

Mulching :

Mulching can be done with Green and dry leaves. You cannot do much damage to the base of the
vine. Take the weed has to do mulching. Using cover crops such as Kalappakoniyam, Mukoniyatis,
Mimosainsisa during the rainly season for control of soil erosion and weeds. Plant the legume crops in
walkable area sides and field edges to control the soil erosion.

Fertigation :

A Year after the vines are well-developed, 5 kgwell-decomposed farmyard manure, 5 kg bio manure
and 5 kg of vermicompost during May – June and October – November month may be applied in the
soil. On the basis of soil analysis, rock phosphate, bone-meal, such as limestone and dolomite can be
apply. Apply sawdustin soils which has low Potassium [Link] crop residue, cow dung, poultry
waste and sawdust (or) mixed with rock phosphate used in place of chemical fertilizers. Apply 2 kg need
seed powder for year for one vine, where the vine affected by the nematodes.

Application of lime :

For two years, 500 grams of lime or dolomite to be applied.

Water management :

Capability for the irrigation can supplied water around the pit for December – May month once in 10
[Link] irrigation is suitable.

Weed Management :

Weeds can be removed during June – July and October – November months (a month two times).

Pruning :

Pepper vine tips can be pinched to improve the lateral branch [Link] the first two years of pepper
vine remove the nut to pull out all the bouquet. To increase the growth off shoots leaves pick out the
selected [Link] creep touching the height of the supporting trees, after that the lack of support
the vines creep hanging downwards. Remove it and the stems can be used to produce seedlings.

Insects :

 Clubs beetle: It is yellowish-purple colour small beetle. This beetle eat the tender pepper skin.
Beetle’s larvae put the hole and damage the tender pepper.
 Mealy bug and scale insects : The leaf, vine and fruit juice to absorb and damage from strings.
 Leaf roller : It was within the young leaf curl and sucking the [Link] rolled part will be
damaged. The morphological structure of green leaf green leaf loss its colour .

Control Measures :

To control clubs beetle, mealy bug, scale insects and leaf roller spray neem oil (400 ml with 100
litres water) at the time of flowering during July and October. And also spray Dasakavya 3% solution 3
times with 15 days interval. To control the insects may spray garlic, Asafetida sap 3% solution.

Nematodes :

Nematode affected vines, impacted by the reduced height of vines, small leaves and colour change
in to pale yellow and nodes can found in the roots.

Control measures :

 At the time of selecting the vines, we can choose nematode free plant.
 If nematode problems is highly identified, marigold can be planted to control
nematodes.
 Pecilomicis and Trichoderma fungus and Pseudomonas bacteria mixer can be applied in
the root zone at the rate of 50 grams per vine.
 Neem cake mixed with farmyard manure at the rate of 100 grams may be applied.
Diseases :

 Foot rot disease : Foot rot disease caused by fungi paittoptorakepsisi. To control the
disease, should undergo regular health operations. With limited time to undertake
plowing. Water should flow in a balanced manner. Trichoderma, Pseudomonas mixture
should be applied at the rate of 50 grams per year for each vine.
 Clubs disease :clubs disease caused by a fungus that KolattodrycomKiliyosboriyatis. Clubs
disease (or) resistance appears to rot appears, spray Bordeaux mixture 1% to the lowest
level. Stunted growth and disease factor seeds should not be used for cultivation. Neem
seed powder can be used to control the disease.
 Slowly rot and rot disease outbreaks: Rot disease is a main disease,which affects the
pepper vine. Well grown pepper vine suddenly damping [Link] is a type of fungal
[Link]’s July – August, the southwest monsoon rains caused rampant. If the disease
affects the vine within 10 – 15 days the entire leaves drop and the plant will die. Falling
leaves is in green colour. For the most part, raised in nearby spruce and mature leaves
become dark. Spruce part first decomposing and then root scorched and the plant decays.
This disease mostly seen in lower Palani hills.

Harvest and Post Harvest Vulnerabilities :

After planting the pepper vines, starting in the third year it give yield, in the sixth year these vines
give good yield. 6 to 7 months after the onset of flowering in pepper ready for [Link] India, pepper
vine flowers that bloom in [Link] bloom to harvest is 6-8 [Link] the plain areas of
harvesting, will be from November to [Link] will be from January to March. Pods when they
becomeOrange-red colour are harvested. During harvest, do not apply any chemicals on red ant. When
the pepper turns from green to reddish yellow, that time all the strings have to be harvested.

Well matured unripe fruits should be [Link] should be in the [Link] tenders
should be kept in aluminium bowl with a hole or in bamboo baskets. Dip it in the 80 centigrade boiling
water, and then dried in the sun for 7-10 days and turns it back and front to have the occasional
deflecting. If back pieces does not turned,

Caused by fungal [Link] cleaning water should be used and should be macarrum.

Yield :

From 2 to 3 kg of dried pepper in one vine a year.

Benefits of pepper tender, put in hot water The tenders which has boiled in hot water, it takes 3-4 days
for dry. The time will be saved. Dry peppers found in the same dark color.

White pepper:

 To produce white pepper, the well matured 3 to 5 pods should be harvested. Pods that not
matured to extract alone. Then the mature fruits should be keeping ripe in a gunny bag up
to 1-2 days. 50 kg gunny bags with the mature fruits, must be tied loosely. After that these
bags are diped in the canal upto 69 days. Keeping the outer peel to keep up.
 After taking out the bags, to extract the pieces apart. And wash it and dry. To dry these
pods, to spread it in cement or on bamboo [Link] continues, spreading the same
model again in 2-hour intervals to keep dry. Dry it until 11% moisture and packed in clean
poly (or) gunny bag.