The Effects of Water Regimes on Morphological and Physiological Traits of Black Pepper (Piper nigrum)

This research investigates the impact of drought and waterlogging stresses on the morphological and physiological characteristics of black pepper (Piper nigrum). The greenhouse experiment was laid out in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with treatments consisting of three water regimes (drought, control, and waterlogging), all replicated three times. The results suggested that the root traits of black pepper, such as root length and surface area, showed considerable reductions under both stress conditions, with more severe impacts observed under waterlogging. The significant reductions were observed in plant height, number of leaves, number of branches, leaf area, and SPAD value, root and shoot dry weight of black pepper. Gas exchange parameters also decreased markedly under drought stress, with waterlogging causing an even greater reduction. The findings provide valuable insights into managing the effects of environmental fluctuations on black pepper cultivation.