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Black Pepper (Kali Mirch)All seasonsPepper variety (rooted cuttings)Updated 28 August 2026

Panniyur-5

An open-pollinated selection from Perumkodi released by KAU Panniyur, notably shade-tolerant тАФ bred for growing as an intercrop under a coffee, arecanut or tree canopy, where Panniyur-1 struggles.

SeasonAll seasons
Maturity periodPerennial тАФ first bearing in year 3, full bearing by year 7тАУ8, productive for 20тАУ30 years
Expected yieldHigh under shade
Suitable soilWell-drained forest loam / laterite, humus-rich, acidic pH 4.5тАУ6.0

Quick facts

Crop
Black Pepper (Kali Mirch)
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; vine count follows the host tree or arecanut spacing as an intercrop
Expected yield
High under shade
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 Perumkodi

About this variety

Panniyur-5 is an open-pollinated selection from the Perumkodi cultivar, released by the KAU Pepper Research Station, Panniyur. Its defining feature is shade tolerance: it was bred specifically to yield well as an intercrop under the canopy of coffee, arecanut or other trees, the situation in which the open-loving Panniyur-1 does badly.

Key characteristics

    Plant typePepper variety (rooted cuttings)
    MaturityPerennial тАФ first bearing in year 3, full bearing by year 7тАУ8, productive for 20тАУ30 years
    Yield potentialHigh under shade
    Disease resistanceModerate; good shade tolerance
    SoilWell-drained forest loam / laterite, humus-rich, acidic pH 4.5тАУ6.0
    SeasonAll seasons

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; vine count follows the host tree or arecanut spacing as an intercrop
  • SpacingOne vine per shade tree or per two-to-three arecanut palms in an intercrop; about 3 ├Ч 3 m standards in a dedicated garden
  • Sowing methodPlant 2тАУ3 rooted cuttings on the northern side of each standard, mulch, and tie every new flush to the standard
  • IrrigationWater young vines through their first dry seasons; summer irrigation of bearing vines where available, though the shaded canopy reduces its water stress
  • Fertilizer5тАУ10 kg farmyard manure per vine each year with a thick pre-monsoon mulch, plus an NPK dose built up to about 50:50:150 g N:P2O5:K2O per vine per year in two splits
  • HarvestingHand-pick spikes in several rounds from November to February for black pepper, when one or two berries per spike colour up

Soil & climate

Soil

Suitable soil
Well-drained forest loam or laterite; the shaded plantation floor of a coffee or arecanut garden suits it
pH
4.5тАУ6.0

Climate

Climate
Shade-tolerant тАФ its whole purpose is to yield under the canopy that suppresses Panniyur-1; still needs the standard's shade regulated enough to avoid a humid disease trap

Yield & maturity

Maturity period

Perennial тАФ first bearing in year 3, full bearing by year 7тАУ8, productive for 20тАУ30 years

Expected yield

High under shade

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

Pest & disease considerations

Major diseases

Management notes

  • Even though it tolerates shade, regulate the standard canopy before each monsoon so it does not become a humid trap for pollu and foot rot
  • Run the prophylactic foot-rot programme; shade tolerance does not mean disease resistance

Advantages & considerations

Why farmers may choose it

  • Bred for shade тАФ yields well as an intercrop under coffee or arecanut
  • The right choice for a multi-storey plantation where Panniyur-1 fails
  • Lower water stress under the shaded canopy

Things to consider

  • No special resistance to foot rot or slow decline тАФ the standard preventive package still applies
  • In fully open cultivation, Panniyur-1 has the higher yield potential

Suitable regions

Intercrop pepper under the canopy of coffee, arecanut or other trees

  • Kerala
  • Karnataka

Frequently asked questions

Why choose Panniyur-5 over Panniyur-1?

Because of shade. Panniyur-5 was selected for shade tolerance and yields well trained onto the shade trees or arecanut of a coffee or areca plantation. Panniyur-1 is bred for the open and does badly under a heavy canopy. If your pepper is an intercrop under other trees, Panniyur-5 (or an IISR selection) is the right pick.

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