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Technical Kisanखेती, तकनीक के साथ
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Black Pepper (Kali Mirch)All seasonsPepper variety (rooted cuttings)Updated 28 August 2026

Panniyur-2

An open-pollinated selection from Balancotta by KAU Panniyur, shade-tolerant and suited to intensive management as a mixed crop, with stable yield across sites.

SeasonAll seasons
Maturity periodPerennial — first bearing in year 3, full bearing by year 7–8, productive for 20–30 years
Expected yieldMedium–high, stable across sites
Suitable soilWell-drained forest loam / laterite, humus-rich, acidic pH 4.5–6.0

Quick facts

Crop
Black Pepper (Kali Mirch)
Type
Pepper variety (rooted cuttings)
Season
All seasons
Maturity period
Perennial — first bearing in year 3, full bearing by year 7–8, productive for 20–30 years
Seed rate
Not a seed crop — 2–3 rooted cuttings per standard, about 3 × 3 m standards or one vine per tree in a homegarden
Expected yield
Medium–high, stable across sites
Suitable soil
Well-drained forest loam / laterite, humus-rich, acidic pH 4.5–6.0
Release
Released by KAU Pepper Research Station, Panniyur, as a shade-tolerant selection from Balancotta

About this variety

Panniyur-2 is an open-pollinated selection from the Balancotta cultivar, released by the KAU Pepper Research Station, Panniyur. It is shade-tolerant, suited to intensive management, and gives a stable medium-to-high yield across sites — a dependable pick for a Kerala homegarden or mixed plantation.

Key characteristics

    Plant typePepper variety (rooted cuttings)
    MaturityPerennial — first bearing in year 3, full bearing by year 7–8, productive for 20–30 years
    Yield potentialMedium–high, stable across sites
    Disease resistanceModerate; shade-tolerant
    SoilWell-drained forest loam / laterite, humus-rich, acidic pH 4.5–6.0
    SeasonAll seasons

Sowing & cultivation

  • Sowing timePlant rooted cuttings at the standard with the first monsoon showers, roughly May–June
  • Seed rateNot a seed crop — 2–3 rooted cuttings per standard, about 3 × 3 m standards or one vine per tree in a homegarden
  • SpacingAbout 3 × 3 m standards in a dedicated garden; one vine per existing tree in a homegarden
  • Sowing methodPlant 2–3 rooted cuttings on the northern side of the standard, mulch, and tie in every flush
  • IrrigationWater young vines through their first dry seasons; summer irrigation of bearing vines where available
  • Fertilizer5–10 kg farmyard manure per vine each year with a thick pre-monsoon mulch, plus an adult NPK dose of about 50:50:150 g per vine per year in two splits
  • HarvestingHand-pick spikes in several rounds from November to February for black pepper

Soil & climate

Soil

Suitable soil
Well-drained forest loam or laterite; homegarden and plantation soils
pH
4.5–6.0

Climate

Climate
Shade-tolerant and stable — a low-fuss choice for mixed cropping where a very high single-crop yield is not the goal

Yield & maturity

Maturity period

Perennial — first bearing in year 3, full bearing by year 7–8, productive for 20–30 years

Expected yield

Medium–high, stable across sites

Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.

Pest & disease considerations

Management notes

  • Standard foot-rot prevention; regulate shade before the monsoon
  • Suits a homegarden or mixed plantation where management is moderate rather than intensive

Advantages & considerations

Why farmers may choose it

  • Shade-tolerant and stable across sites
  • Dependable for a homegarden or mixed plantation
  • Suited to moderate, not intensive, management

Things to consider

  • Yield potential is below Panniyur-1 in the open and the top IISR selections under management
  • No special disease resistance — the standard preventive package still applies

Suitable regions

Mixed cropping and homegardens in Kerala

  • Kerala

Frequently asked questions

Is Panniyur-2 a good homegarden pepper?

Yes. It is shade-tolerant, gives a stable medium-to-high yield without intensive management, and trains well onto existing homegarden trees. For a high-yield commercial garden with good inputs, an ICAR-IISR selection such as Sreekara or Subhakara has a higher ceiling.

Sourced from: ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR), Kozhikode, Kerala Agricultural University — Pepper Research Station, Panniyur. editorial policy.