Package of practices for
mulberry cultivation under rainfed and hilly areas:- Ngangshimeyu Extension Officer.
Mulberry is the food plant for silkworm, Bombyx mori ,and hence its improvement in the quality and quantity
of leaf per unit area and their commercialization at farmers level is a pre-requisite
for sericulture development. A major factor is the maximization of leaf yield
of mulberry per unit area will lead to increased cocoon production. Hence a
package of practices comprising of the various aspects of mulberry cultivation
viz spacing, planting season, method of planting, irrigation, manuring, pruning
etc is discussed below
for different agro-climatic conditions and topography of the area
with an aim to maximize leaf yield output.
RAINFED AREAS
Preparation of land.
Deep ploughing/digging to be done after pre-monsoon
showers in April-May to loosen the soil. Two more ploughing should be
given to bring the soil to a fine tilth. Weeds and stumps are to be removed and
land leveled.
Preparation of pits.
Pits of 35cmx35cmx35cm to be prepared at a spacing of 90cm x90cm.
A mixture of soil :FYM (2:1) is to be filled in the
pits.
Planting season
:
June-July.
Propagation.
By planting of 20-22cm length cuttings with 4-5 active & health
buds, made from 8-9 month old mulberry bushes.
>
Spacing :90cmx90cm (3’x3’)
Method of planting
Pit system. Three cuttings per pit in a slightly slanting manner in triangular
fashion with 10cm apart from each other.
Inter- cultivation
After one month of
plantation, light hoeing should be given to eliminate the weeds and to loosen
the soil to facilitate aeration and absorption of water.Two more weeding should
be done at an interval of one month. Third weeding to be done
with a light digging.
Water management.
No
irrigation. Ridging/basin preparation to be made around plant base with
soil, mulching soil surface with
paddy straw,water hyacinth or coconut leaves may be practiced to conserve soil
moisture during winter season.
Application of manures.
Vermicompost/FYM/ general compost@
10MT/ha/yr to be applied in the pits at the time of plantation and every year
after pruning in May-June.
Application of Biofertilizers.
A)Nitrofert (Azotobacter)
biofertilizer:
This is to be
applied after pruning and soil preparation @ 10kg/ha/yr in two equal split
doses,once in rainy(June-July) and another in post rainy (Sept-Oct) season to
be applied at root zone.
B)Phosphofert(Arbuscular
Mycorrhizal Fungi) biofertilizer:
AM fungi@75kg/ha/yr to be
applied once in 4 years at the root zone preferably in dry season.
Both nitrofert and phosphofert can be used simultaneously.
Application schedule of chemical
fertilizers/ Biofertilizers.
|
Chemical fertilizers
|
Without biofertilizer
|
With biofertilizer
(Azotobacter & AM fungi)
|
|
Nitrogen
@150kg/ha/yr
|
150kg/ha/yr in 2 equal splits@ 75kg/ha/,once in June-July
& another in Sept-Oct.
|
75kg/ha/yr AZB application @ 1.5g per plant in 2 equal
split doses.
|
|
Phosphorous
@ 50kg/ha/yr
|
50kg/ha/yr in Jun-July.
|
10kg/ha/yr in Jun-JulyAMF @ 6g/plant once in 4yrs.
|
|
Potash
@50kg/ha/yr
|
50kg/ha/yr in June-July.
|
50kg/ha/yr in June-July.
|
Leaf harvest:
Two harvests can be made in the year of establishment, the Ist after 9th month of planting and the 2nd
on 12th month of planting. From first year onwards, the leaf is to
be harvested at an interval of 12 weeks for 4 crops per year.
Pruning:
One bottom pruning at the height of 10-15cm above ground level every
year during june. Second pruning may be done in sept- oct if rain is assured.
HILLY AREAS
Preparation of land.
Repeated
digging by pickaxe and spades. Weeds and stumps are to be removed and contour
bunds/terraces are to be prepared.
Preparation of pits.
Pits of
35cmx35cmx35cm are made at a spacing of 90cmx90cm across the terraces/slopes. A
mixture of soil : FYM (2:1) is filled in the pits.
Planting season
: May-June.
Propagation.
20-22cm
long cuttings with 4-5 active buds are planted in nursery beds.
Spacing
: 90cmx90cm(3’x3’)
Method of planting.
In
each pit one sapling is buried up to 15-20cm below ground level.
Inter-
cultivation
After one
month of plantation, light hoeing should be given to eliminate the weeds and to
loosen the soil to facilitate aeration and absorption of water.Two more weeding
should be done at an interval of one month. Third weeding to
be done with a light digging.
Water management.
No
irrigation facility. With the cessation of monsoon ridging around the plant
base or mulching with the help of weeds or mulberry twigs to conserve soil
moisture can be done.
Application of manures.
Vermicompost/FYM/ general compost@ 10MT/ha/yr to be applied
in the pits at the tim
fertilizer: Application of manures.
e of plantation and thereafter
every year after pruning in May-June.
Application of Biofertilizers.
A)Nitrofert (Azotobacter)
biofertilizer:
This is to be
applied after pruning and soil preparation @ 10kg/ha/yr in two equal split
doses,once in rainy(June-July) and another in post rainy (Sept-Oct) season to
be applied at root zone.
B)Phosphofert(Arbuscular
Mycorrhizal Fungi) biofertilizer:
AM fungi@75kg/ha/yr to be
applied once in 4 years at the root zone preferably in dry season.
Both nitrofert and phosphofert can be used simultaneously.
Application schedule of chemical
fertilizers/ Biofertilizers.
|
Chemical fertilizers
|
Without biofertilizer
|
With biofertilizer
(Azotobacter & AM fungi)
|
|
Nitrogen
@150kg/ha/yr
|
150kg/ha/yr in 2 equal splits@ 75kg/ha/,once in June-July
& another in Sept-Oct.
|
75kg/ha/yr AZB application @ 1.5g per plant in 2 equal
split doses.
|
|
Phosphorous
@ 50kg/ha/yr
|
50kg/ha/yr in Jun-July.
|
10kg/ha/yr in Jun-JulyAMF @ 6g/plant once in 4yrs.
|
|
Potash
@50kg/ha/yr
|
50kg/ha/yr in June-July.
|
50kg/ha/yr in June-July.
|
Leaf harvest:
Two harvests can be made in the year of establishment. From 2nd
year onwards 3 leaf harvests are made. An established mulberry plantation can
produce 18-20000kg leaf per ha/yr.
Pruning:
Pruning can be done at a height of 50-60cm as medium cut bush
plantation.
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