Response of clove (Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & Perry) seedlings and black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) cuttings to propagating media under nursery conditionsl

Various propagating media were evaluated for enhancing growth of clove (Syzygium aromaticum L.) seedlings in the nursery and the best was soil and vermicompost mixed in 1 : 1 proportion. The transplanting time of clove seedlings could also be shortened to 1 year by adopting this media in the nursery. Vermicompost was also evaluated as a propagating media for black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) in comparison with potting mixture comprising of soil, sand and farmyard manure. Black pepper "uttings raised in vermicompost were significantly taller and had more number of leaves than in potting mixture. &nbsp

Effect of Pseudomonas fluorescens (IISR-6) and Trichoderma harzianum (P-26) on growth of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) in the nursery

Experiments conducted to study the effect of Pseudomonas fluorescens (IISR-6) and Trichoderma harzinaum (P-26) on growth of black pepper (Piper nigrum) rooted cuttings in the nursery indicated that maximum height and leaf area of cuttings were obtained with application of P. fluorescens thrice, which was on par with raising cuttings in T. harzianum applied potting mixture and application of P. fluorescens thrice. Number of roots and biomass production were higher with combined application of P. fluorescens (thrice) and T. harzianum which was on par with application of P. fluorescens thrice. &nbsp

Analysis of rainfall of the high rainfall tract of northern agro-climatic zone of Kerala

Analysis of rainfall of the high rainfall tract of northern agroclimatic zone of Kerala wascarried out for 26 years (1980–2005) to schedule spice crop management practices precisely.The analysis indicated that the tract received 4461 mm of annual rainfall in 145 rainy days.South west monsoon (June to September) alone contributed 75% of annual rainfall and Julywas the rainiest month (1117 mm) with 27 rainy days. The length of growing period wasidentified between 18th standard week to 47th standard week (from 30th April to 25th November)with a mean rainfall of 4284.1 mm. The pre-monsoon period from 2nd April to 6th May (between14th week to 18th week) with a mean rainfall of 180.6 mm was the right time for land preparationfor annual crops like ginger (Zingiber officinale) and turmeric (Curcuma  longa) and the periodbetween 30th April to 27th May (18th week to 21st week) with a mean rainfall of 244.4 mm wasideal for planting including first mulching and first schedule of fertilizer application forthese crops. The probability of getting 50 mm rainfall per week was more than 60% duringthe 19th week (7th to 13th May). This is the time for prophylactic plant protection, applicationof first schedule of fertilizer application and shade regulation for black pepper (Piper nigrum)and tree spices. The second schedule of these operations has to be done during the 36th to 39thweek (3rd to 30th September) as this period is relatively rainless (September rainfall was 349.6mm). Though the tract receives high rainfall, there is moisture stress between December andMarch and adequate moisture conservation (or irrigation wherever possible) is essentialparticularly for perennial crops in juvenile stage. &nbsp

Agronomy of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) - a review

Black pepper (Piper nigrum L.), a highly valued spice crop, is a perennial vine which originated in the Western Ghats of India and subsequently spread to other countries. Various aspects of crop ecology and agronomical practices such as planting material production, spacing and supports, training and pruning, irrigation, mulching and weeding, nutrition, harvest and cropping systems are reviewed. &nbsp

Agronomy of ginger (Zingiber officinule Rosc.) a review

Ginger (Zingiber officinale) is grown in tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world for it's spice and medicinal values. Successful production of ginger depends on efficient use of available resources by adopting suitable agronomic practices. Such practices like land preparation, seed selection, seed rate, seed treatment, planting season, depth of planting, mulchlng, nutrient management, use of growth regulators, weed control, irrigation, shade requirement and harvest management are reviewed in detail. The review also covers climatic requirement for cultivation, soil suitablity, establishment and growth, pests and diseases, cropping systems, ratooning and economics of cultivation. &nbsp

Agronomy of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) - a review

Black pepper (Piper nigrum L.), a highly valued spice crop, is a perennial vine which originated in the Western Ghats of India and subsequently spread to other countries. Various aspects of crop ecology and agronomical practices such as planting material production, spacing and supports, training and pruning, irrigation, mulching and weeding, nutrition, harvest and cropping systems are reviewed. &nbsp

Effect of Azospirillum sp. and nutrients on yield of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.)

An experiment was conducted at Peruvannamuzhi (Kerala) to study the effect of Azospirillum sp. along with nutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), boron (B) and molybdenum (Mo) on yield of black pepper (Piper nigrum). Maximum fresh yield (2207 g vine-1) was recorded in the treatment Azospirillum sp. + 50% recommended N + Mg followed by application of NPK alone. Significantly higher N, K and Mg content in the soil and N and Ca content in the leaf was observed in the treatment, 50% recommended N + Mg. Application of Azospirillum sp. increased the population of bacteria and a final population of 106 x 105 cfu (colony forming units) in the soil was recovered in the treatment 50% recommended N + Mg (0.2 kg ha-1) compared to uninoculated control

Threshold level of soil zine for optimum production of ginger (Zingiber officinale Rose.)

A field experiment was conducted at Peruvannamuzhi (Kerala), for two years to evaluate the optimum level of zinc (Zn) content in soils for maximizing production of ginger (Zingiber officinale) on an Ustic Humitropept with varying levels of Zn fertilizer. The mean rhizome yield of two years was higher in plots where Zn @ 5 kg ha-1 was applied. A cubic model described satisfactorily the relationship between mean rhizome yield and fertilizer application rate. The optimum fertilizer dose for obtaining maximum rhizome yield was determined as 6 kg ha-1 of Zn. The maximum limit of soil DTPA-Zn for obtaining higher rhizome yield was 3.4 mg kg-1. &nbsp

Effect of Azospirillum sp. and nutrients on yield of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.)

An experiment was conducted at Peruvannamuzhi (Kerala) to study the effect of Azospirillum sp. along with nutrients such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), zinc (Zn), boron (B) and molybdenum (Mo) on yield of black pepper (Piper nigrum). Maximum fresh yield (2207 g vine-1) was recorded in the treatment Azospirillum sp. + 50% recommended N + Mg followed by application of NPK alone. Significantly higher N, K and Mg content in the soil and N and Ca content in the leaf was observed in the treatment, 50% recommended N + Mg. Application of Azospirillum sp. increased the population of bacteria and a final population of 106 x 105 cfu (colony forming units) in the soil was recovered in the treatment 50% recommended N + Mg (0.2 kg ha-1) compared to uninoculated control

Annual and monthly rainfall trend in plantation and spice farming Western Ghats districts

Rainfall analysis of important plantation and spices producing districts such as The Nilgiris (Tamil Nadu), Kodagu (Karnataka) Idukki (Kerala) and Wayanad (Kerala) with 100 years data (1901 to 2000) obtained from the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Pune indicated that mean annual rainfall were 1839.7mm, 2715.7mm, 2979.4mm and 3381.0mm with a coefficient of variation (CV) of 16.0%, 17.0%, 25.8% and 19.6%, respectively. The contribution of southwest monsoon(June-September) to the annual rainfall in these districts were 80.3% (Wayanad), 78.9% (Kodagu),  65.2% (Idukki) and 56.3%  (The Nilgiris) with corresponding CV of 24.1%, 20.6%, 32.5%, and 24.6%, respectively. The declining trend in mean annual rainfall was noticed for Idukki, Wayanad and The Nilgiris, whereas, for Kodagu, it was stable. The change was significant in Wayanad and The Nilgiris. Similar trend was also observed for the southwest monsoon rainfall. The maximum decline in annual and southwest monsoon rainfall was noticed in The Nilgiris followed by Wayanad. Pre and post monsoon rainfall receipts were comparatively less with high inter-annual variations. The pre-monsoon (March-May) receipt and its coefficient of variation (CV) was 252.4mm & 20.6% (Kodagu), 360.9mm & 36.5% (Idukki), 251.7mm & 36.6% (The Nilgiris) and 274.2mm & 54.2% (Wayanad). The post monsoon (October-December) rain was maximum in Idukki 548.1mm (CV 27.9%) followed by The Nilgiris 503.4mm(CV 31.3%), Wayanad, 333.1mm(CV 37.8%) and Kodagu 310.5mm (CV 32.7%). In all these districts there was a declining trend in the pre-monsoon rain with maximum decline in The Nilgiris. Similar declining trend was also observed in post-monsoon rain except for The Nilgiris, where the trend has been increasing. Overall, the study gives an indication that there was a spatial and temporal variation in rainfall amounts.  The maximum decline in annual rainfall and the southwest monsoon was observed in The Nilgiris and Wayanad. July was the rainiest month in all the districts studied. Significant negative trend was asscoaited with The Nilgiris for January, May, June, July and August months. Whereas, in Kodagu, no significant trend was observed for mean monthly rainfall, except for August. In Idukki, significant negative changes were noticed for January, March, October and December rainfall. Monthly rainfall of January, March, April and July monthly rainfall were showed significant negative trend in Wayanad,. These negative trends across important plantation and spices producing districts of the Western Ghats would affect not only the agricultural economy of this sector but also water resources