Recommended nutrient dosage for pepper (3 years and above)

Note :

• Apply 1/3 dose for one year old plants and 1/2 dose for two year old plants.
• The fertilizers may be applied in two split doses, the first in May-June with the receipt of a few soaking rains and the second in August-September.
• Apply fertilizers in a circle of radius 30 cm around the vine in the case of plants trailed on erythrina (Nadan murukku) or teak pole (dead standard)
• Soil application of zinc @ 6 kg ha-1 as zinc sulphate or foliar spray of Zn @ 0.5 per cent during flowering and pin head stage of black pepper is recommended in zinc deficient areas of black pepper cultivation for increasing the yield and quality.
• Application of molybdenum @ 1 kg ha-1 is recommended for areas deficient in soil molybdenum availability.
• Manuring for pepper vines is to be done in basins taken around the plant, 10-15 cm deep and 30-40 cm radius, depending upon the growth of the plants.
• Apply cattle manure / compost / green leaves @10 kg/ plant/ annum just at the onset of southwest monsoon and cover lightly with soil.
• It is desirable to apply lime at the rate of 500 g/vine in April- May, with the receipt of pre-monsoon showers, in alternate years.
• Apply 10 kg FYM + 500g Neem cake + 500 g ash+ 2 kg vermicompost with biofertilizer – Azospirillum & P solubilizing bacteria (20g).
• Apply PGPR Consortia (50 g) consisting of 2 spp. of Micrococcus and I sp. of Enterobacter per vine which helps in growth promotion and disease suppression.