MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC CROPS (2+1)

Cultivation

Soil and climate

It flourishes well in rich, well-drained loamy soil. Laterite soils rich inorganic matter content with good moisture holding capacities are also suitable.

The plant requires a hot moist climate and an elevation between 100 and 1000 m for its cultivation. It can be grown successfully even in areas which receive heavy rainfall with high relative humidity. In its natural habitat, the plant is found growing as an under shrub. Hence it is specially suited as a under crop in coconut and areca nut gardens with 20-25 per cent shade intensity.


Propagation

Long pepper can be propagated through seeds, suckers or cuttings or layering of mature branches at the beginning of rainy season. However, it can be easily propagated through the terminal stem cutting obtained from one year old growth and 3-5 internodes. To plant one hectare, about 25000 cuttings will be required. Vine cuttings can be rooted in polythene bags filled with the common pot mixture. The nursery can be raised during March and April. The cuttings planted in March-April will be ready for planting in the main field by the end of May.


Planting

Before planting, the land should be ploughed 2 to 3 times and leveled properly. Then the field is divided into plots of convenient in which the pits are dug at a spacing of 60 cm x 60 cm. These pits are filled with soil mixed with well decomposed FYM or compost. In heavy rainfall areas, channels are made to drain excess water. Afterwards, with the onset of monsoon the rooted cuttings are planted in the pits at the rate of 2 per pit. The pits are gap filled one month after planting. Long pepper is planted as an inter crop in Subabul, Eucalyptus and under coconut in different parts of the country.


Manures and fertilizers

The crop needs heavy manuring. About 20 tons FYM along with 50 kg N, 20 kg P205 and 70 kg K20 per ha/ year is required for optimum growth and yield. OF this 50% of N and entire dose of P205 and K20 is given as basal doses and the remaining N is given as top dressing. Since the crop will give economic yield for 3 years, the manuring has to be done each year. In the subsequent year’s manures and fertilizer application is done by spreading it in beds and covering with soil.


Irrigation

The crop should be irrigated once in a week if it is grown as a pure crop. In case the crop is grown as an inter crop with other crops, the irrigation provided to the main crop is sufficient. Sprinkler system of irrigation may be adopted for economizing the irrigation water.


Interculture

During the first year of planting, weeding is done when weed growth is noticed in the beds. After application of FYM, earthing up is done. During summer, to prevent the moisture less or losses from the soil surface, the beds are mulched with dry leaves or straw.