INVESTIGATIONSON THE NUTRITIONOF BLACK PEPPER [Piper nigrum L.]

By

E. V. NYBE

THESIS

Submitted In partial fulfilment of the

requirements for the degree of

Doctor of Philosophy in Horticulture

Faculty of /\grlculture

Kerala /\grlcultural University

Department ofPlantation Crops and Spices

COLLEGE OF HORTICULTUREVellanikkara, Trichur

1986

CERTIFICATE

Certified that this thesis entitled "Investigations

on the nutrition of black pepper (Piper nig~ L.)" is a.

record of research work done independently by Sri. E.V.Nybe,

under my guidance and supervision and that it has not

previously formed the basis for the award of any degree,

fellowship or associateship to him.

Vellanikkara,II.- ..-

~ ieb~uary, 1986. .C. SIVAR.Chairman ,

Advisory Committee &Director of ResearchKerala AgriculturalUniversity'

(

ABSTRACT

Detailed studies were conducted in black pepper (var.

Panniyur 1) from 1981 to 1985 at the Pepper Research Station,

Panniyur and College of Horticulture, Vellanikkara with a

view to induce nutrient deficiency symptoms by sand culture

and to find out the relationships of foliar nutrients with

yield.

Deficiency symptoms of macronutrients except Ca and a

were first manifested on the older leaves while that of

micronutrients on younger leaves. Symptoms of N deficiency

were expressed as uniform yellowing followed by necrosis

whereas purple to bronze yellowing with ash coloured necrotic

areas were the symptoms of P deficiency. Potassium deficiency

symptom was characterized by tip and marginal necrosis which

later progressed to the two-thirds distal portion of the

lamina. Calcium deficiency sYmptoms appeared as tiny brown

necrotic spots on chlorotic area near margins which later

enlarged to form black necrotic areas. Visible sYmptom of Mg

deficiency was oval interveinal chlorotic area followed by

black necrotic patches. Sulphur deficiency was manifestedI

I as uniform yellowingwith brown necrotic spots. TherewasI profound reductionin vegetative-growthdue to deficiencyof

I macronutrients.

I index was maximum in the case of deficiencyof N (56 and 63%

The reduction in shoot growth and leaf area

. respectively) followed by S (48 and 17% respectively). The

i reduction in root growth was quite high due to deficL€ncy of

I Ca (61%), P (45%) and N (39%).

Interveinal chlorosis was the initial sympt0m of defici-

ency of all micronutrients. However, the symptoms were

specific to the concerned nutrients. Iron chlorosis was

characterized by the presence of green bands along the major

veins whereas bronze yellow colour of the interveinal areas

was the specific symptom of Mn deficiency. Bronze colour of

the entire lamina with necrotic tips and margins were the

symptoms of Cu deficiency. Zinc deficiency was unique with

little leaf and resetting. Due to B deficiency, the leaves

became large, thick and brittle with orange yellow mottles on'

upper surface and grey brown interveinal patches on lower

surface. Unlike macronutrients, there was no marked reduction

in vegetative growth due to deficiency of micronutrients except

Fe and B which recorded 35,and 22 per cent reduction respect-

ively, in total dry matter production. Boron deficient plants

registered 18 per cent increase in leaf area index.

The growth of the vine was completely arrested a~ compa-

ratively early stage (4.5 months after treatment) due to S

deficiency followed by N (6th month), Fe (7th month), B (12th

month), P (13th month) and Cn (14.5 months after treatment).

Tbere was no cessation of growth in the case of deficiencies

of other nutrients.

Visual symptoms of deficiencies were concurred with a

marked reduction in the foliar levels of the concerned elements.

Antagonistic effects among K, Ca and Mg were also observed. In

all other CBses, deficiency of one element failed to influence

the foliar level of others. The deficiency symptoms could

be recovered by the application of the deficient nutrient

element which provided valid information for the confirm-

ation of the deficiency symptoms.

The foliar levels of macronutrients except Ca registered

two peaks, one in June and the other in October while the

lowest level was during April. The nutrients namely Ca, Fe,

Mn and Zn, in general showed a decreasing trend from April to

June and thereafter increased and reached maximum level in

December.

Highly significant positive correlations were showed by

P, K, Ca and Mg with yield. The critical level of S was

found to be 0.15%. The 'tentative critical levels' suggested

for the other elements studied are as follows:

The two most important nutrient elements which are

highly essential for the production of pepper could be

identified as K and P in view of their high direct and

indirecteffects on yield. .

N - 2.1 to 2.4% .p - 0.19 to 0.20%

K - 1.8 to 1.9% Ca - 2.8 to 2.9%

Mg - 0.5 to 0.6% Fe - 156 to 169 ppm

MIl - 77 to 88 ppm Zn - 30 to 32 ppm