Evaluation of potting mixtures and humidity conditions for rooting and establishment of plagiotropic branches of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.)

Abstract

Bush pepper grown from the lateral branches (plagiotrops) of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) has the advantage of growing as a garden plant without standards for trailing and there is surge in demand for planting materials. An experiment was conducted to standardize suitable rooting conditions for the production of bush pepper in which, potting mixture (soil and vermicompost in 3:1 proportion) and coir pith compost, alone and in combination were evaluated for the rooting and establishment of bush pepper with and without humid chambers. The laterals of black pepper variety Panniyur 1 were used. There were nine treatments with three replications each. After 50 days of planting it was observed that, the largest number of laterals established where coir pith compost in 8 x 5 cm black nursery bags and kept under humid chamber (T₂ / 63.3 %) followed by coir pith compost in 19” x 8” transparent LDPE bags, planted the cuttings and tied the mouth for retaining humidity (T₈ / 60.8%). In both the cases the planting medium used was coir pith compost. Hence it is inferred that coir pith compost could be used as medium for rooting and establishment of laterals for large scale production of bush pepper.