Black Pepper (Piper nigrum)
- For production of bush pepper, two to four node semi hard wood lateral branches (plagiogtropic shoot) with orthotropic shoot from where they arise are to be collected and planted in the nursery for rooting during June - July.
- Well rooted plants are used for field planting.
- The rooted cuttings are to be planted in pits or pots.
- Fertilizers can be applied @ 1.0, 0.5 and 2.0 g/ pot of N, P2O5 and K2O respectively at bimonthly interval.
- Alternatively, application of 15 g groundnut cake or 33 g of neem cake can also meet the N requirement of the crop.
- The bushy nature of the plant will have to be ensured by proper pruning of the viny growth.
- The potted plants are to be kept preferably under partial shade.
- It is necessary that re-potting is carried out after every two years.
- Irrigating black pepper vines with 8 litres of water through drip per day during Oct - May enhances yield and quality in bush pepper with high B:C ratio.
- Recommended for bush pepper grown as intercrop in coconut gardens
