New planting, gap filling Spike formation

• New planting of pepper is to be done with the onset of monsoon. Planting season can vary between July to August.
• Plant 2-3 rooted cuttings individually in pits on the northern side of the standard.
• Tie the shoots to the strandard as the cuttings grow.
• Regulate the shade by lopping the branches of shade trees to provide adequaste sun light to the young vines.
• Apply manure @ 5 kg. for vines below 3 years and neem cake @1kg./vine.
• Apply 30 g. Urea, 80g. Rock phosphate and 60g. MOP during first year of planting and increase the dosage to 65g Urea, 165g. Rock phosphate and 135g.MOP during the second and third year. Apply fertilizers at a distance of 30 cm from the base of the vines.
• Spray the young vines with Bordeaux mixture 1% and drench basins with copper Oxychloride 0.2% at monthly intervals to PREVENT fungal diseases such as foot rot, anthracnose, leaf rot, basal wilt etc.
• Apply Trichoderma harzianum @50g/vine with a 106 cfu along with organic manures such as fym or neem cake. In case of Trichoderma application avoid the use of Copper oxychloride.
• Observe the planting materials for presence of nematodes and discard infested cuttings or prune the infested roots Add biocontrol agents like Trichoderma, Pochonia or P. fluorescens in the planting pit.

• Remove runner shoots trailing on the ground.
• Apply manures and fertilizers.
• Basal dose of farm yard manure 10 kg per standard for vines above 3 years in June, and neem cake @1kg./vine. Apply 100 g. Urea, 250g Rock phosphate, 205g MOP per vine. Apply fertilizers at a distance of 30 cm from the base of the vines.
• Once the rain progresses remove the mulch from the basins to provide drainage and adequate aeration to root zone.
• Ensure adequate drainage in root zone and inter spaces.
• Adopt following PREVENTIVE measures against foot rot fungal disease.
• Remove previous seasons dead vines along with roots either burn or bury in deep pits.
• Lop off branches of support trees to allow penetration of sunlight.
• Remove mulch from basin and provide adequate facility for drainage and prevent water stagnation in the base of vines.
• Apply Trichoderma harzianum @50g/vine with a 106 cfu along with organic manures such as fym or neem cake.
• Spray foliage with Bordeaux mixture (1.0%) taking care to avoid excessive dripping on soil.
• Where no Trichoderma harzianum is applied drench the basins with copperoxychloride (0.2% 2g/ litre of water) @5-10 litres per vine depending on size of the vine.
• In place of Bordeaux mixture Metalaxyl (100ppm) or potassium phosphonate (3000ppm, 3 ml/ litre) may be used both as soil drench and spray.

• Spray Carbendazim (0.1%) at the time of emergence of spike and on noticing spots on leaves.
• Spray Bordeaux mixture (0.1%) after 15 days.
• In case of pollu beetle infestation adopt measures by spraying quinolphos 0.05% on foliage and spikes.
• Adopt following control measures in case burrowing nematode or root knot nematode infestation is noticed.
• Treat the plants with biocontrol agents like Trichoderma, Pochonia or P. fluorescens.
• Heavily infested garden to be treated with phorate 3 g a.i./ plant.

• Established plantations
  • Mulch the basins & interspaces with locally available green leaves to reduce evaporation.
  • Spray 1% lime or Kaolinite solution on leaves to reduce transpiration as well as heat load.
• Very young plantations
  • Mulch the basin & interspaces with locally available leaves/coir pith compost.
  • Protect young vines by providing sufficient shade.
  • Reduce the canopy size by removing some leave

• Nip off the emerging spikes if any.
• Spray 1% Bordeaux mixture or drench with Copper Oxy Chloride to prevent foot rot.

• Provide hose irrigation @ 35-40 litres/vine once a week or 7 litres/vine daily (through drip) after February till the monsoon is received and also during breaks.
• Apply organic manures like FYM @ 10 kg/vine and mulch the basin with locally available leaves (10 kg/vine)/coir pith compost (2 kg/vine)
• Plant high yielding varieties such as Panniyur 1, 1041, Panniyur 5, OPKM etc.

• Harvest rain water through farm ponds, store and recycle.
• Irrigate the crop during critical stages like spike emergence (March II fortnight), Pollination and fertilization (April II fortnight till June I fortnight), initial berry growth period (June II forthnight to July II fortnight) at an interval of at least 8-10 days.
• Follow Contour bunding and contour cultivation.
• Plant relatively drought tolerant varieties such as Kalluvally, Kottanadan, Panniyur 5, OPKM etc.
• Mulch the basin & interspaces.
• Apply sufficient quantity of organic manure such as FYM (10 kg/vine), vermicompost, groundnut cake etc.
• Follow wider spacing and provide sufficient shade during summer.