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.
Quick facts
- Type
- Pepper variety (rooted cuttings)
- Season
- All seasons
- Maturity period
- Perennial тАФ first bearing in year 3, full bearing by year 7тАУ8, productive for 20тАУ30 years
- Seed rate
- Not a seed crop тАФ 2тАУ3 rooted cuttings per standard, about 3 ├Ч 3 m standards or one vine per tree in a homegarden
- Expected yield
- MediumтАУhigh, stable across sites
- Suitable soil
- Well-drained forest loam / laterite, humus-rich, acidic pH 4.5тАУ6.0
- 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 тАФ a dependable pick for a Kerala homegarden or mixed plantation.
Key characteristics
Sowing & cultivation
- Sowing timePlant rooted cuttings at the standard with the first monsoon showers, roughly MayтАУJune
- Seed rateNot a seed crop тАФ 2тАУ3 rooted cuttings per standard, about 3 ├Ч 3 m standards or one vine per tree in a homegarden
- SpacingAbout 3 ├Ч 3 m standards in a dedicated garden; one vine per existing tree in a homegarden
- Sowing methodPlant 2тАУ3 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
- Fertilizer5тАУ10 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
- 4.5тАУ6.0
Climate
- Climate
- Shade-tolerant and stable тАФ a low-fuss choice for mixed cropping where a very high single-crop yield is not the goal
Yield & maturity
Maturity period
Perennial тАФ first bearing in year 3, full bearing by year 7тАУ8, productive for 20тАУ30 years
Expected yield
MediumтАУhigh, stable across sites
Actual yield depends on sowing time, soil, irrigation, weather, seed quality and crop management.
Pest & disease considerations
Major diseases
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 тАФ 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 тАФ Pepper Research Station, Panniyur. editorial policy.