be ready for transplanting in 2 months time. With the onset of monsoon in June the field is
ploughed well and brought to good tilth. 15-20 cm raised beds of convenient length and
breadth are taken. On these beds, pits are dug at 60 x 60 cm spacing and well decomposed
organic manure at 100 g/pit is applied and mixed with the soil. Rooted vine cuttings from
polybags are transplanted to these pits. Gap filling can be done after one month of
planting.The crop needs heavy manuring at the rate of 20 t FYM/ha every year. Application of
heavy dose organic matter and mulching increase water retention in the soil and control
weeds. Small doses of chemical fertilisers can also be used. The crop needs irrigation once a
week. Sprinkler irrigation is ideal. With irrigation the crop continues to produce spikes and
off-season produce will be available. However, it is reported that unirrigated crop after the
onset of monsoon grows vigorously and shows much hardiness than the irrigated crop.
Crop losses can be heavy due to pests and diseases. Mealy bugs and root grubs, attack
the plant particularly during summer. Infested plants show yellowing and stunted growth.
Application of systemic insecticides like nuvacron or dimecron will control the pests. Adults
and nymphs of Helopeltis theivora severely feeds on the foliage which can be controlled by
0.25% neem kernel suspension. Rotting of leaves and vines during monsoon season is caused
by Colletotrichum glorosporiodes and necrotic lesions and blights on the leaves during
summer is caused by Colletotrichum and Cercospora spp. These diseases can be controlled
by spraying of 1% Bordeaux mixture repeatedly. A virus like disease characterised by
yellowing and crinkling of leaves, stunted growth and production of spikes of smaller size
and inferior quality was also recently reported.
The vines start flowering six months after planting and flowers are produced almost
throughout the year. The spikes mature in 2 months time. The optimum stage of harvest is
when the spikes are blackish green. The pungency is highest at this stage. Spikes are hand
picked when they become mature and then dried. The yield of dry spike is 400 kg /ha during
first year, increases to 1000kg during third year and thereafter it decreases. Therefore, after 3
years the whole plant is harvested. The stem is cut close to the ground and roots are dug up.
Average yield is 500 kg dry roots/ha (Viswanathan,1995).
Piper longum can also be cultivated as an intercrop in plantations of coconut, subabul
and eucalyptus.
Post harvest technology
The harvested spikes are dried in sun for 4-5 days until they are perfectly dry. The
green to dry spike ratio is 10:1.5 by weight. The dried spikes have to be stored in moisture
proof containers. Stem and roots are cleaned, cut into pieces of 2.5-5 cm length, dried in
shade and marketed as piplamool. There are three grades of piplamool, based on the
thickness. The commercial drug consists 0.5-2.5 cm long ,0.5-2.5 mm thick, cylindrical
pieces dirty light brown in colour and peculiar odour with a pungent bitter taste, producing
numbness to the tongue.
Properties and activity
The spike of long pepper contains 4-5% piperine, piplartin, piperolactam, N-isobutyl
deca trans- 2 - trans- 4 - dienamide and piporadione alkaloides, besides 0.7 % essential oil.
Roots gave the alkaloids piperine, piperlongumine (piplartine) and piperlonguminine;
sesamine, methyl 3, 4, 5-trimethoxy cinnamate. Stem gave triacoutane 22, 23 -
dihydrostigmasterol. Fruit essential oil contains piperidine, caryophyllene and sesquiterpene
alcohol (Atal et al, 1975 ).
The root is plungent, hot, stomachic, laxative, anthelmintic and carminative. The fruit
is sweetish, pungent, hot, stomachic, aphrodisiac, alterative, laxative, antidysenteric,
emmenagogue, abortifacient, diuretic and tonic. The essential oil is antimicrobial and
anthelmintic. N-isobutyl-deca-trans- 2 - trans- 4 - dienamide is antitubercular. Piperine is
hypotensive, antipyretic, analeptic, and nerve stimulant (Warrier et al, 1995).