Nutrient diagnosis of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) gardens in Kerala and Karnataka

Diagnosis and Recommendation Integrated System (DRIS) indices were worked out for soiland leaf nutrient status of black pepper (Piper nigrum) at Calicut (Kerala). The nutrient analysisdata obtained from extensive (130 samples) surveys of major black pepper growing tracts ofKerala and Karnataka was compared with already worked out soil and leaf nutrient DRISindices values to find out the deviation of nutrients from the corresponding criticalconcentrations. The results revealed that the soils in most of the gardens were acidic (pH 4.4to 6.7). Soil sample analysis showed that 88% gardens had organic carbon (OC) status belowthe critical values, 74% gardens had Zn and 36% gardens had P and 28% gardens had Castatus below the required levels. Leaf analysis results showed that 46% samples had Mg,39% samples had Cu and 12% samples had P, K and Zn status below the required criticalvalues. The order of limiting nutrients was: OC > Zn > P > Ca > K > Mg for soil andMg > Cu > P=K=Zn > Mn for leaf samples.  The study revealed the importance of manuringblack pepper gardens with organic manures supplemented with secondary andmicronutrients. &nbsp