Pattern and variability of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) yield in tropical humid climate

Abstract

Black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) is commercially important spice in India. The yield of this crop varies depending upon the method and intensity of cultivation. Our main objective of the study was to quantify the yield variation among vines of different lines under identical management. Experiment was conducted at Indian Institute of Spices Research – Experimental Farm, Peruvannamuzhi (11o.34’ N, 75 o.48’ E, and 60 MSL), Calicut district, Kerala, between 1994 and 1999. Ten improved lines were selected for the study. Six months old uniform cuttings one each @ 40 per line was planted on three years old Ailanthus malabarica DC live support during July 1994. The fresh green berry yield was recorded from first bearing (1996-97) year to third bearing years (1998-99). The number of yielding vines, yield per vine and mean yield (g vine-1) and CV (%) varied among lines in all three years of yielding. The values for these characters were 10-32, 142-706, 419, 44.4%-75.9%; 28-39, 581-1431, 839, 11.7%-146.6% and 23-39, 1247-5232, 3326, 44.8%-112.0% during I, II and III years of yielding, respectively. Yield variability was not consistent over the years for same line and among the line. Irrespective of lines, the CV for yield during I, II and III years were 72.1%, 50.1% and 35.6%, respectively. Yield distribution at different percentile values (0.01, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 0.90 & 1.0) and number of yielding vines between these percentile values were also recorded. On an average, the yield (g vine-1) distribution at different percentile values were 10, 140, 240, 500, 1070, 2620 in first year, 10, 270, 560, 1110, 1726, 7500 in second year and for third year 50, 1000, 2450, 5043, 7806, 15250 and number of yielding vines between these percentile yield values were 5.9, 3.7, 4.7, 2.4, 1.8, for second year 8.4, 7.7, 8.0, 4.3, 3.1and for third year 8.7, 7.5, 7.4, 4.8, 3.4. On an average maximum numbers of yielder was seen under 0.01 to 0.25 percentile yield group in all the three years of yielding and it varies with cultivars. Quantum of yield share also varies with percentile yield groups. The contribution of yield to the total production of lines were maximum from the yield obtained with vines belongs to higher percentile yield groups in