MSc

Increasing demand of plant based raw materials to user industries
has emphasised the need to promote commercial cultivation of medicinal
species. Integration of medicuIture with agriculture offers tremendous
possibilities for improving crop productivity and profitability besides
generation of employment. Development of a sustainability pathway to
soil fertility management is a necessity for popularization of intercropping
of long pepper in coconut gardens.
Two experiments under the project, "Rhizosphere modulation for
higher productivity in long pepper (Piper longum Linn.)" were carried out
at the College of Agriculture, Vellayani during 2002-03 to standardise
nursery management practices for quality planting material production and
to manage the rhizosphere for maximising the yield of spikes and
biochemical constituents in long pepper under partial shade.
The pot culture experiment consisted of combinations of eight levels
of bio inoculants, viz., Azospirillum (AZ), Fluorescent pseudomonads (FP),
AMF (AM), Azospirillum + Fluorescent pseudomonads (AZ + FP),
Azospirillum + AMF (AZ + AM), Fluorescent pseudomonads + AMF (FP +
AM). Azospirillum + Fluorescent psuedomonads + AMF (AZ + FP + AM)
and no bio inoculants (BO) and four composition of rooting media viz, FYM:
Sand: Soil(I:I:I), Vermicompost : Sand: Soil (1:1:1), Coir pith compost:
Sand: Soil (1 : 1 : 1), and Poultry manure: Sand: Soil (1: 1 : 1).
Dual inoculation of FP+AM followed by combined inoculation of
AZ+FP+AM gave maximum leaf number. Integrated application of
FY+FP+AM and VC+AZ+FP+AM recorded maximum dry matter
production. Maximum root number, root length, root spread and root
weight were recorded by AZ+FP+AM, AM, AZ+FP+AM and FP+AM
respectively. Inclusion of VC and FYM in the rooting media, enhanced
root length and root spread respectively.

Integration of dual inoculation with vermicompost resulted in
maximum colonisation of Azospirillum. Single inoculation of FP recorded
higher colonisation. Dual inoculation of FP with AM and combined
inoculation of FP with AMF and AZ also recorded higher value. The
treatment combinations, FY/VC+FP+AM and FY/VC+AZ+FP+AM recorded
maximum AMF inoculation
In the field experiment, the response of long pepper to five sources
of organic manures viz, FYM, vermicompost, coir pith compost, neemcake,
and no organic manure, three levels of inorganic fertilizers viz, 0:0:0,
30:30:60, 60:60: 120 kg NPK halyrland three levels of bio inoculants viz,
AZ+FP+AM, FP+AM, and no bio inoculant were studied.
Application of FYM/VC, moderate dose of NPK (@30:30:60 kg
halyr ") and combined inoculation of AZ+FP+AM were beneficial for the
development of an efficient root system. In general, FY IVC, application of
moderate dose of NPK and B I enhanced spike number. Source of organic
manure significantly influenced spike yield and application of VC
followed by FYM resulted in higher total fresh and dry spike yield.
Moderate dose of NPK, was found sufficient in maximising the total spike
production. With respect to bio inoculants, B I followed by B2 recorded
higher yield. Incorporation of FYM without the addition of inorganic
fertilizers but integrating with combined inoculation of AZ+FP+AM
recorded the maximum alkali od content.
It is concluded that integrated nutrient management system
involving incorporation of verrnicompost @6.25 t halyr', addition of
NPK @30:30:60 kg halyrland combined application of bio inoculants viz,
Azospirillum, Fluorescent pseudomonads and AMF was found favourable
for enhancing both total fresh and dry spike yield and total alkaloid
production in long pepper under partial shade.