Mulberry Cultivation

Scientific Name: Mulberry (Morus spp.), Family: Moraceae

Mulberry is an important plant in sericulture, and its leaves serve as the primary food source for silkworms. Here’s an in-depth overview of its cultivation, varieties, harvesting methods, and leaf preservation techniques:

Ecological Requirements

Climate

• Altitude: Mulberry can be cultivated up to 800 m above sea level.
• Temperature: Optimum Range: 13°C to 37.7°C. Ideal Temperature: 24°C to 28°C for proper growth and bud sprouting.
• Humidity: A relative humidity of 65% to 80% is required.
• Sunlight: Needs 5-12 hours of daily sunshine.
• Rainfall: Mulberry grows well in a rainfall range of 600 mm to 2500 mm annually. Under low rainfall conditions, supplemental irrigation is needed. Ideally, mulberry requires about 50 mm of water every 10 days.

Soil Requirements

• Soil pH: Slightly acidic soil with a pH range of 6.2 to 6.8 is ideal for mulberry cultivation.
• Soil Type: Loamy soils, free from injurious salts, are preferred.
• Soil Drainage: Well-drained soil is essential to prevent root rot.
• Saline/Alkaline Soils: Not suitable for mulberry growth.

Mulberry Varieties

• Irrigated Varieties Kanva 2, MR 2, S 30, S 36, S 54, DD (Viswa), V1
• Semi-Irrigated Varieties Kanva 2, MR 2
• Rainfed Varieties S 13, S 34, RFS 135, RFS 175, S 1635

Propagation of Mulberry Mulberry is primarily propagated through cuttings.

Propagation Methods:

1. Direct Planting: Cuttings can be directly planted in the main field or nursery beds can be raised first.
2. Nursery Method (Recommended): This method helps in easy establishment and higher survival rates. Raised saplings from the nursery are then transplanted into the main field.

Selection of Planting Material

• Type of Cuttings: Semi-hardwood cuttings from 8-12 months old plants are ideal.
• Size of Cuttings: Length: 15-20 cm, Thickness: 10-12 mm in diameter, Should have 3-4 active buds. Cuttings should be sharp, clean, and slanted at 45° for better rooting.
• Cutting Method: Use a manual or power-operated mulberry cutting machine for quick and efficient cutting.

Nursery Management

Nursery Bed Preparation:

• Select a 800 sq.m. area of well-drained, loamy soil.
• Apply 1600 kg of FYM (Farm Yard Manure) at 20 t/ha and mix it into the soil.
• Construct nursery beds of 4m x 1.5m, ensuring proper drainage.
• Beds should not be shaded.

Pre-treatment of Cuttings: Mix 1 kg of Azospirillum culture with 40 liters of water and soak the bottom ends of cuttings for 30 minutes before planting.

Nursery Planting: Apply VAM (Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi) @ 100 g/m² of nursery area. Plant the cuttings at a spacing of 15 cm x 7 cm, ensuring one active bud is exposed per cutting.

Irrigation & Chemical Treatments: Water the nursery once every 3 days. Apply chemicals to avoid termite attacks: Malathion 5D or Quinalphos 1.5D. For preventing root rot, drench the nursery with Carbendazim 50 WP (2 g/l) or Trichoderma viride.

Sapling Age: Transplanting Age: Saplings are ready for transplanting in 90-120 days after planting.

Planting Method Mulberry can be planted using the paired row system with spacing of 75/105 cm x 90 cm for irrigation-based systems and 90 x 90 cm for rainfed systems.

Recommended Planting Time: Ideal Time: During the rainy season. Avoid: Winter and summer months.

Nutrient Management: Irrigated/Semi-Irrigated: NPK Recommendation: 300:120:120 (kg/ha) Rainfed: NPK Recommendation: 100:50:50 (kg/ha) For better growth, incorporate bio-fertilizers like Azospirillum and Phosphobacterium.

Methods of Irrigation

• Ridges and Furrows: Most efficient for water management. Requires less water compared to other methods.
• Flat Bed: Suitable for larger areas but requires more water.
• Drip Irrigation: Most water-efficient method. Reduces water wastage, especially in undulating terrain.

Weed Management

• Cultural: Remove stubbles and roots of weeds during field preparation. Use decomposed manure to prevent weed growth.
• Mechanical: Plough after pruning to remove weeds. Use a hand hoe for manual weeding.
• Chemical: Use Paraquat or Glyphosate for post-emergence weed control.

Harvesting of Mulberry Leaves

Methods of Harvesting:

• Leaf Picking: Individual leaves are harvested with or without the petiole. Harvesting starts 10 weeks after bottom pruning, and subsequent harvesting is done every 7-8 weeks.
• Branch Cutting: Entire branches are cut and fed to silkworms after topping to ensure uniform maturity.
• Whole Shoot Harvest: Shoots are cut at ground level after bottom pruning. This method allows 5-6 harvests per year.

Time of Harvest: Harvesting is ideally done in the morning hours for better leaf quality.

Preservation of Mulberry Leaves

• Leaf Preservation Chambers: Store leaves in specially designed chambers.
• Wet Gunny Bags: Alternatively, leaves can be stored in wet gunny bags or wrapped in wet bamboo baskets to keep them fresh. To maintain freshness, it’s essential to keep the leaves cool and moist.