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Black Pepper (Kali Mirch)All seasonsClonal selection (rooted cuttings)Updated 28 August 2026

Sreekara

A clonal selection from Karimunda released by ICAR-IISR, Kozhikode, with higher yield and good dry-recovery and quality; one of the standard IISR recommendations for new planting, usually paired with Subhakara.

SeasonAll seasons
Maturity periodPerennial — first bearing in year 3, full bearing by year 7–8, productive for 20–30 years
Expected yieldHigh, with good dry recovery and quality
Suitable soilWell-drained forest loam / laterite, humus-rich, acidic pH 4.5–6.0

Quick facts

Crop
Black Pepper (Kali Mirch)
Type
Clonal selection (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, standards at about 3 × 3 m (roughly 1,100 vines/ha)
Expected yield
High, with good dry recovery and quality
Suitable soil
Well-drained forest loam / laterite, humus-rich, acidic pH 4.5–6.0
Release
Released by ICAR-IISR, Kozhikode, as a clonal selection from Karimunda

About this variety

Sreekara is a clonal selection from the traditional Karimunda cultivar, released by ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research, Kozhikode. It gives a higher yield than Karimunda with good dry recovery and berry quality, and is one of the standard IISR recommendations for new pepper planting in the traditional belt, usually recommended alongside Subhakara.

Key characteristics

    Plant typeClonal selection (rooted cuttings)
    MaturityPerennial — first bearing in year 3, full bearing by year 7–8, productive for 20–30 years
    Yield potentialHigh, with good dry recovery and quality
    Disease resistanceModerate
    SoilWell-drained forest loam / laterite, humus-rich, acidic pH 4.5–6.0
    SeasonAll seasons

Sowing & cultivation

  • Sowing timePlant with the first monsoon showers, roughly May–June
  • Seed rateNot a seed crop — 2–3 rooted cuttings per standard, standards at about 3 × 3 m (roughly 1,100 vines/ha)
  • SpacingAbout 3 × 3 m standards in a dedicated garden; follows the host tree spacing as an intercrop
  • Sowing methodPlant 2–3 rooted cuttings on the northern side of the standard, mulch the base, and tie every new flush to the standard
  • IrrigationWater young vines through their first dry seasons; summer (dry-season) irrigation of bearing vines, increasingly by drip, markedly improves berry fill where water is 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 N:P2O5:K2O per vine per year in two splits, with lime on very acidic soil
  • HarvestingHand-pick spikes in several rounds from November to February for black pepper; good dry recovery means a better weight of dry pepper per kg of green berry

Soil & climate

Soil

Suitable soil
Well-drained forest loam or laterite, on the high side of a slope or a mound
pH
4.5–6.0

Climate

Climate
Performs across the traditional belt with good management; no special disease or drought resistance, so drainage and the foot-rot programme remain essential

Yield & maturity

Maturity period

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

Expected yield

High, with good dry recovery and quality

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

Pest & disease considerations

Management notes

  • Run the prophylactic foot-rot programme and plant on well-drained ground — Sreekara has no special resistance
  • Give summer irrigation where possible; it rewards good nutrition and water with a high yield

Advantages & considerations

Why farmers may choose it

  • Higher yield than the parent Karimunda
  • Good dry recovery — more dry pepper per kg of green berry
  • A standard ICAR-IISR recommendation for new planting

Things to consider

  • No special resistance to foot rot or slow decline — the standard preventive package still applies
  • Rewards good management; an under-managed vine gives up much of its yield advantage over Karimunda

Suitable regions

New planting in the traditional belt, sole or intercrop

  • Kerala
  • Karnataka
  • Tamil Nadu

Frequently asked questions

Are Sreekara and Subhakara related?

Yes — both are clonal selections from the traditional Karimunda cultivar, released by ICAR-IISR, Kozhikode, and they are usually recommended together for new pepper planting in the traditional belt. They are similar in habit and yield; a grower typically plants whichever authenticated planting material is available, or a mix.

Sourced from: ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR), Kozhikode, Spices Board India. editorial policy.