Introduction
Fruits and roots contain alkaloids like pipeline, palatine and are used for cough, bronchitis, asthma, muscular pains, dysentery, stomach disorders, leprosy and tuberculosis
Soil and climate
It flourishes well in rich, well drained, loamy soils. It thrives well in regions having 30–32 °C temperature, 60 % humidity with annual rainfall of 150 cm. Plant prefers hot, moist climate. It should be grown under partial shade with 20 to 25% shade intensity.
Propagation
Long pepper is propagated through seeds, suckers, rooted cuttings or by layering of mature branches at the beginning of the rainy season. The nursery can be raised during March and April the cuttings are ready for planting in the main field by the end of may.
Planting
Planting should done during rainy season. Using rooted stem cuttings at a distance of 60 cm between the rows and 30 cm between the plants. Cultivation can be taken under coconut or arecannt plantations in multitier cropping pattern. Pits of 15 cm depth are formed and the rooted cuttings are planted at the center of pit
Manures and Fertilizers
Incorporate 20 – 25 t/ha of FYM
Irrigation
The crop should be irrigated once a week if it is grown as a pure crop. In case the crop is grown an intercrop with other crops the irrigation provided to the main crop is sufficient
Inter cultivation
Weeding followed by earthing up is required up to 3 months. Dry leaves can be used as mulches.
Harvesting
The spikes are harvested while still dark green and unripe, as they are most pungent at this stage. The crop can be maintained up to three years. When the crop is grown for roots, it can be harvested after 36 months. The roots are dug out, cleaned, cut into pieces of 2.5-5.0 cm, dried in shade and stored.
Yield
An average leaf yield of 15 t/ha can be obtained