What are the methods and importance of mulberry cultivation?

It has been mentioned above that for the silk worm-Bombyx mori the mul­berry leaves happen to be the only food. Hence cultivation and proper yield of the mulberry plants occupies an important place in sericulture. Extensive research is done on the improvement of mulberry plant which includes disease resistance and high yield form the plants. Taxonomically the genus Morus has more than 12 species distributed very extensively in India and other East Asian countries like Japan, Indonesia etc., Only about 3 or 4 species of the genus -Morus alba, M. indica, M. rubra and M.nigra are used in silk industry.

The mulberry plant is a medium sized tree belonging to the family Moraceae. This deciduous tree has a soft white wood which is in great demand in the manufacture of sports goods while the leaves constitute the food for silk worm. The cultivated mulberry plants however generally do not reach the size of a tree as they are pruned regularly. Soil: Mulberry plants grow very well in a loam soil. The soil should have proper drainage. A pH rang of 7.0 is ideal for the growth of plants.

Planting:

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Two methods are followed

(1) Seeds:

Seeds collected from ripe fruits of mulberry plant are sown in the soil generally during the months of December and May. The seedlings spring up very fast and ready for transplanting in June, July or November. Seed beds should have good manure like lime and ash. In order to prevent soil borne infections fungicides may be added to the soil.

(ii) Cutting:

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Stem cuttings offer a rapid method of propagation of plants. Cuttings are obtained from improved varieties of plants in the months of July – August and are planted in the field. Two methods are followed in Karnataka in planting the cuttings.

(1) Pit planting:

Cuttings are planted in individual pits with the space be­tween pits being 3’x3\

(2) Row planting:

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This is of two types again- single row planting and multiple row planting. In single row planting, Mulberry is a subsidiary crop. Plants are raised along the boundary of the field. About 400 plants are required to cover the boundary of one hectare of area. In the multiple row system, the entire plot is used for mulberry cultivation. About 10,000 plants can be cultivated per hectare with the distance between plants be­ing one square meter. Between the rows of plants the soil is made into furrows for easy drainage of water.

Fertilizers and Irrigation: Mulberry plants require adequate irrigation and fertilizers for proper growth and yield. Weekly irrigation is a neces­sity for a good yield. There should be proper chanelling of the soil for the easy flow of water. Good drainage that does not allow water logging near the base of the plants is required. Agricultural practises like mulching will help in the preservation of moisture. Deweeding should be done regularly.

Organic as well as chemical fertilizers are required for the healthy growth of mulberry. Quantity and frequency of maturing the soil depends on the type of soil, fertility etc. Generally however farmyard manure of 10 kg per plant per year (for one year old plant) and super phosphate 250 gms per plant per year (for one year old plant) are required. The doses of fertilizer should be increased with the increase in age of the plant.

Pruning and Thinning:

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Pruning of the plant is very essential to give a proper orientation to the growth of the plant. Thinning also helps in avoid­ing overgrowing and results in a better yield. The months of December and January are best suited for pruning. In mulberry plantations, plants will be ready for harvest in 4-5 years time for the feeding of silk worms. There are two types of pruning- bottom pruning and middle pruning. In the former, pruning is done at the base and in the latter it is done at the middle region.