Vol. 7, Issue 10, Part A (2025)

Piper nigrum L., known as the “King of Spices,” is a chief cash crop of Kerala, with the Wayanad highlands functioning as one of the principal cultivation zones. This research endeavour is conducted to document the agro-morphological variability of black pepper varieties and note usual cultivation practices in selected locations of Wayanad district, Kerala. Field-based surveys were conducted in five major black pepper-growing regions of Wayanad—Pulpally, Kakkavayal, Kammana, Kalpetta, and Mananthavadi—using a descriptive, cross-sectional design. Data were collected through direct farmer interactions, structured questionnaires, and on-field observations. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics to assess the variability in varietal distribution, support systems, and management practices. A wide diversity of black pepper varieties was documented, including traditional landraces (Karimunda, Valankotta, Neelamundi, Koombukkal) and improved hybrids (Panniyur-1, Panniyur-2, Aswathy, Preethi, Suvarna, Super Gold, Shakthi, Wayanadan-2). Thekkan, Uthirankotta, Shakthi, and Munthirimundi were the most preferred, while Panniyur-1, Panniyur-2, and Bolt were least favoured. Predominant supporting plants included Areca catechu, Cocos nucifera, and Gliricidia maculata, along with Colubrina spp., Erythrina variegata, and Swietenia macrophylla. Major constraints reported were labour scarcity, climate change, flooding, and fluctuating market prices. The most frequently observed diseases were quick wilt, charcoal rot, root rot, stem blight, bacterial wilt, anthracnose, and leaf spot. Common cultivation practices included layering, bush pepper cultivation, the Vietnam model, and multistorey cropping. The study highlights significant agro-morphological variability, varietal preferences, and cultivation strategies in Wayanad’s black pepper sector. The findings provide a baseline for future conservation, sustainable production, and farmer-cantered improvements in black pepper cultivation.