AGRICULTURAL INOCULANTS CORPORATION

“MICROBES AT WORK”

http://ph.linkedin.com/pub/gene-gregorio/2/455/b0a
http://gene-gregorio.blogspot.com/p/about-gene-gregorio.html
http://twitter.com/#!/genegregorio
http://www.facebook.com/gene.gregorio
http://www.scribd.com/home

CULTURAL PRACTICE FOR BLACK PEPPER (Piper nigrum)

A. Seedling Stage

1. The nursery for the growing of planting materials preferably must allow for
partial shedding to avoid subjecting the growing plants from withering stress
and too frequent watering.

2. Normally, planting materials are grown from cuttings with 3 to 4 nodes.

3. Use light or loamy soil mixed with organic fertilizer or bio-organic fertilizer
using a 50:50 ratio as potting soil. If loamy soil is not available add 10 to 15
% fine sand into the mixture.

4. Use 15 cm diameter by 25 cm deep plastic bags. Fill up the bags with the
potting soil up to 1/3 its capacity then plant the cuttings at the center with the
more matured end first then fill up with potting soil covering at least 2 nodes
of the cuttings.

5. Water the plants 2 to 3 times a day to keep the soil moist. New shoots will
start to grow within 30 to 40 days.

6. During the growing period spray the plants with foliar fertilizer at the rte of
0.676 % mixed with 1 % Ammosul (21-0-0) at least twice a month. This
mixture is attained by mixing 1 liter of the foliar fertilizer and 1.6 kg of the
Ammosul in 160 liters of water.

7. The seedlings will be ready for transplanting when they are 3 to 4 months old.

B. Planting Stage

1. Select a site with fine textured or loamy soil and substantial amount of organic
matter, at least 2 %, up to a depth of 30 to 40 cm. It must have a good source
of water as well as good drainage. The pH must range between 6.5 +/- 5.
 AGRICULTURAL INOCULANTS CORPORATION
“MICROBES AT WORK”

http://ph.linkedin.com/pub/gene-gregorio/2/455/b0a
http://gene-gregorio.blogspot.com/p/about-gene-gregorio.html
http://twitter.com/#!/genegregorio
http://www.facebook.com/gene.gregorio
http://www.scribd.com/home

2. Dig holes wider than the size of the plastic bags. Put on every hole a mixture
of 200 grams of organic fertilizer or bio-organic fertilizer and 20 to 25 grams
of Ammophos (16-20-0). Cover with 5 to 7 cm of soil then place the plant
into the hole then cover with the soil which was removed. Press to keep to
plant stable.

3. The planting distance is normally 2.5 meters by 2.75 meters. This will allow
for about 1440 hills per hectare of plantation. Use tough leaning poles which
are resistant to termites and do not easily get rotten when embedded into the
soil.

C. Care and Maintenance

1. During the first year apply a mixture of 20 grams of urea (46-0-0), 25 grams
of complete (15-15-15) inorganic fertilizers and 200 grams of organic
fertilizer or bio-organic fertilizer in a band around the base about 15 cm and
gradually further away from the base of the drip line, once every quarter (3-
month intervals). Cover the fertilizers with fine soil to avoid losses.

2. Spray foliar fertilizer at the rate of 0.67 % mixed with 1 % urea (46-0-0) in
solution, twice a month.

3. During the second year apply a mixture of 100 grams of complete (15-15-15)
and muriate of potash (0-0-60) and 300 grams of organic fertilizer or bio-
organic fertilizer applied in the same manner mentioned in Step D-1, once
every 4 months.

4. Spray foliar fertilizer on the foliage at the rate of 0.67 % mixed with 1 % each
of urea (46-0-0) and muriate of potash (0-0-60), at least once a month.

5. During the third and subsequent years apply a mixture of 150 grams of each of
complete (15-15-15) and muriate of potash (0-0-60) and 500 grams of organic
fertilizer or bio-organic fertilizer applied in a ring 40 to 50 cm from the base
of the plant up to the drip line, once every 4 months.
 AGRICULTURAL INOCULANTS CORPORATION
“MICROBES AT WORK”

http://ph.linkedin.com/pub/gene-gregorio/2/455/b0a
http://gene-gregorio.blogspot.com/p/about-gene-gregorio.html
http://twitter.com/#!/genegregorio
http://www.facebook.com/gene.gregorio
http://www.scribd.com/home

6. Spray the plants with a mixture of foliar fertilizer at the rate of 0.67 % and 1
% muriate of potash (0-0-60) in solution, at least once a month.

7. Watch for the presence or occurrence of pests and diseases. If necessary,

spray the appropriate crop protection chemicals which are biodegradable if
bio-pesticides are not available.

D. Harvesting and Drying

1. The pepper plant bares a small green berry, about the size of a mungbean,
which turns red as it ripens.

2. The berries are gathered just as they begin to change color. They are then
cleaned and dried.

3. Drying is accomplished either under the sun or with heated air using a
mechanical dryer. In drying, the berries turn black from which the finished
product obtained its commercial name.