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

Panniyur-6

A later KAU Panniyur release with good yield and quality and moderate tolerance to shade; grown alongside the other Panniyur selections in Kerala.

SeasonAll seasons
Maturity periodPerennial тАФ first bearing in year 3, full bearing by year 7тАУ8, productive for 20тАУ30 years
Expected yieldHigh
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, about 3 ├Ч 3 m standards
Expected yield
High
Suitable soil
Well-drained forest loam / laterite, humus-rich, acidic pH 4.5тАУ6.0
Release
Released by KAU Pepper Research Station, Panniyur

About this variety

Panniyur-6 is a later release from the KAU Pepper Research Station, Panniyur, with good yield and quality and moderate shade tolerance. It is grown in the plains and midlands of Kerala alongside the earlier Panniyur selections.

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
    Disease resistanceModerate
    SoilWell-drained forest loam / laterite, humus-rich, acidic pH 4.5тАУ6.0
    SeasonAll seasons

Sowing & cultivation

  • Sowing timePlant with the first monsoon showers, roughly MayтАУJune
  • Seed rateNot a seed crop тАФ 2тАУ3 rooted cuttings per standard, about 3 ├Ч 3 m standards
  • SpacingAbout 3 ├Ч 3 m standards in a dedicated garden
  • 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 with a 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 in the Kerala plains and midlands
pH
4.5тАУ6.0

Climate

Climate
Suited to the plains and midlands with moderate shade tolerance

Yield & maturity

Maturity period

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

Expected yield

High

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

Pest & disease considerations

Management notes

  • Standard foot-rot prevention and shade regulation
  • A good all-round choice for a Kerala plains or midland garden

Advantages & considerations

Why farmers may choose it

  • Good yield and quality
  • Moderate shade tolerance suits mixed and open situations
  • A recent KAU recommendation

Things to consider

  • No special disease resistance тАФ the standard preventive package still applies
  • This record does not carry a verified release year for Panniyur-6; confirm the current recommendation with KAU or your KVK

Suitable regions

Kerala plains and midland pepper gardens

  • Kerala

Frequently asked questions

How is Panniyur-6 different from the earlier Panniyur varieties?

It is a more recent KAU Panniyur release aimed at good yield and quality with moderate shade tolerance, so it sits between the open-loving Panniyur-1 and the strongly shade-tolerant Panniyur-5/2. Check with KAU or your KVK for the current recommendation for your area.

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