Response of mulberry to nitrogen and sulphate of potash on yield and quality of leaf, in relation to sustainable cocoon production and grainage parameters

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted for two years to study the response of mulberry to nitrogen (N), sulphate of potash (SOP), and muriate of potash (MOP) on leaf yield, quality, cocoon production and grainage parameters at the Main Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India, in an established irrigated mulberry crop with six treatments. Application of 400 kg N/ha/yr in combination with 180 kg K (as SOP)/ha/yr applied in 5 splits gave significantly higher leaf yield as compared to control. The improvement in leaf yield and quality may be due to better utilization of N in the presence of potassium through SOP. Further, the bioassay study carried out on the silkworm NB4D2 race performed better by feeding them on the leaf raised by the application of higher levels of N and SOP. That apart, the same treatment also gave significantly higher cocoon yield and post-cocoon parameters (more specific in grainage parameters). An indicator to prove the improvement in leaf quality by application of N and SOP.