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Organic Spices
Turmeric, Ginger, Garlic, Pepper, Fenugreek, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Cumin, Chili, Nutmeg, Coriander, Mustard, Tamarind, Vanilla, Sesame
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Organic Processed Foods
Banana, Coconut, Guava, Mango, Papaya, Tomato, Onion, Honey, Arrowroot, Niger, Maize, Peanut, Rice, Castor, Red gram, Black gram, Sorghum, Cashew
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Organic Herbs
Aloe Vera, Amla, Neem, Basil, Bacopa, Licorice, Chebula, Asparagus, Ashwagandha, Stevia, Coleus, Senna
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Organic Cultivation of Organic Black Pepper :
When pepper is grown in mixed cultivation system, it is essential that all the crops in the field are maintained following organic methods of production. It is also advisable that the entire farm is converted to organic. Livestock should be reared according to organic principles. The plantation should have a green cover with leguminous crops. They could be cut and mulched during summer to prevent moisture loss. Shade and support trees, leguminous and green manuring shrubs to provide biomass and neem and other sources for plant protection agents should find a place with in or on the borders of such organic farm.
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Climate
Organic Piper nigrum plant prefers partial shade or partial sun area for its growth. Pepper plant is essentially a crop that grows best in well-drained clay-loam soils rich in humus and flourishes in warm, moist climate. of the wet tropics. For better yield light showers during May-June are considered beneficial for fruit set.
Pepper plant starts flowering during May-June with the onset of the southwest monsoon and harvesting is usually in November-January.
Soil
All the crop residues and farm wastes should be recycled through composting so that soil fertility is restored and maintained at a very high level. Soil and nutrient loss through soil wash, run off and percolating water should be minimized through proper agronomic practices.
Adoption of following practices in the nursery is recommended.
- The soil used for the potting mixture should be solarised prior to use.
- Solarised soil should be fortified with cultures of VAM and Trichoderma (250 g mass multiplied in 25 kg. compost).
Planting
Initially, cuttings from conventional plantations can be used in the absence of purely organic sources and principles. In subsequent years, the runner shoots or aerial shoots collected from elite mother vines grown organically only shall be used for generation of planting material. The vines for the rapid multiplication in nursery units may be sprayed with vermin wash (50 ml per unit) for enhancing growth.
Fertilizers
Application of two Kg compost of rotten cow dung mixed with 125 g rock phosphate at the time of planting the rooted cuttings should be done as a basal dose. If found necessary based on soil test, application of rock phosphate, bone meal, lime and dolomite may be carried out. Wood ash may be used in potash deficient areas.
Manuring
Compost or farmyard manure may be applied @ 20 kg/vine/year during May-June. This can be partially or completely substituted by vermicompost in which case the quantity needed will be half. Compost made from green loppings, crop residues, grasses, and cow dung, poultry droppings etc., fortified wood ash and/ or rock phosphate should be used regularly instead of farmyard manure alone. Such compost can be further enriched with non-edible oil cakes and right microbial cultures prior to withdrawal from compost pit and before applying to the field. Crushed neem seed @ 2 Kg/vine/year may be applied in areas infested with nematodes.
Weeds
Weeding is to be limited to slashing. Slashed materials should be used for mulching the plant base.
Disease management in nursery
The two important nursery diseases are:
Leaf rot caused by Rhizoctonia solani.
Basal wilt caused by Sclerotium rolfsi.
Both of these diseases can be minimized if solarised soil inoculated with VAM and Trichoderma is used. However, if isolated incidence of these diseases is noticed, timely adoption of phytosanitary measures and spot application of Bordeaux mixture (1%) may be done. In areas where nematode problems occur, addition of crushed neem seed or neem cake is recommended.
Insect
Plant nematode resistant lines like 'Pournami' are used in areas where nematode can seriously affect pepper plantation.
Harvesting
In order to ensure quality of the product:
Start harvesting when one or two berries in few spikes turn orange or red.
Follow selective harvesting method to harvest only fully matured spikes.
Care should be taken to avoid damage to vine during harvest.
Post Harvesting
If any spike falls on ground during harvesting, it should be mixed along with other lot only after thorough washing. If chemical measures are adopted to prevent ants while harvesting the lot should be thoroughly washed and dried before mixing with the main lot. The quality of product depends on the quality of raw materials, the methods used in processing and the packaging and marketing practices. Therefore, constant care should be maintained from the time of harvesting till the time it reaches the consumer.
Yield
Between three or four years after planting Organic Piper nigrum commence fruiting and their productiveness ends about the fifteenth year.
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