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

Subhakara

A Karimunda clonal selection from ICAR-IISR, similar in habit to Sreekara, high-yielding with good berry size; the two are usually recommended together for new planting.

SeasonAll seasons
Maturity periodPerennial — first bearing in year 3, full bearing by year 7–8, productive for 20–30 years
Expected yieldHigh, with good berry size
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 berry size
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

Subhakara is a clonal selection from the traditional Karimunda cultivar, released by ICAR-Indian Institute of Spices Research, Kozhikode. It is similar in habit to Sreekara, high-yielding with a good berry size, and the two are usually recommended together as the standard IISR pepper varieties for new planting in the traditional belt.

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 berry size
    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 irrigation of bearing vines, increasingly by drip, 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 per vine per year in two splits
  • HarvestingHand-pick spikes in several rounds from November to February for black pepper; the larger berry gives a bold graded pepper

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

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 berry size

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
  • Rewards good nutrition and summer irrigation with a high yield

Advantages & considerations

Why farmers may choose it

  • High yield with a good, bold berry size
  • A standard ICAR-IISR recommendation, usually paired with Sreekara
  • Suited to both sole and intercrop cultivation

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 loses much of its advantage over Karimunda

Suitable regions

New planting in the traditional belt, sole or intercrop

  • Kerala
  • Karnataka
  • Tamil Nadu

Frequently asked questions

Should I plant Sreekara or Subhakara?

Both are ICAR-IISR clonal selections from Karimunda, similar in habit and yield, and usually recommended together for new planting in the traditional belt. Most growers plant whichever authenticated planting material the IISR / KAU / state horticulture nursery has available, or a mix of the two.

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