Morus alba is the botanical name for Mulberry. Mulberry leaves are used as a food source for silkworms. Moreover, the fruit has many medicinal properties. For example, it can be helpful to make blood tonic, which can help with constipation, tinnitus, dizziness, and urinary incontinence, among other things. This fruit’s prepared juice is well-known in Korea, Japan, and China. This perennial plant can be 40 to 60 feet in height. The perfectly arranged flowers bear violet-black fruits. Mulberry cultivation is well-known in India, with Punjab, Haryana, West Bengal, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu being the top producers.
Mulberry Cultivation in India
Mulberry cultivation necessitates specific treatments such as climate and soil requirements, among others. So, without losing our time, let us learn about them.
Climate Prerequisites
Mulberry cultivation requires temperatures ranging from 24 to 28°C. So, cultivate it in this temperature range for maximum yield. And for plantation, you should finish in temperatures ranging from 35 to 40°C. It can demonstrate the plant’s healthy growth. Furthermore, the rainfall ranges from 600 to 2500mm, which is ideal for mulberry cultivation. Finally, pick the fruits when the temperature is between 35 and 45°C.
Soil Prerequisites
Mulberry farming can be done on a variety of soil types, ranging from loamy to clay. Mulberry cultivation requires deep fertile to flat soil with a sound drainage system and water holding capacity. Furthermore, the pH of the soil must be between 6.2 and 6.8. After selecting the ground, prepare it for cultivation using tractors and farm implements like Fieldking Rotavator. Tractor refinance can help you say goodbye to your old and lousy loan if you are a marginal farmer.
Favourite Varieties
Mulberry comes in two well-known varieties:
- S-36 – Heart-shaped leaves in a light green hue. Leaves have a high moisture and nutrient content and produce an average yield of 15,000 to 18,000 kg/acre.
- V-1 – Introduced in 1997, this variety has oval and broad leaves that are dark green in colour, with an average yield of 20,000 to 24,000 kg/acre.
Land Preparation
Mulberry cultivation necessitates well-prepared soil. Did you know you can get a Used Tractor Loan to help you with your farming needs? You certainly can. Use your tractor and farm implements like Landforce Rotavator to prepare the land. Then, remove the weeds and deep plough the soil to achieve a fine tilth.
Sowing Prerequisites
We should plant mulberry trees between July and August. However, the months of June and July are ideal for nursery plantations. As a result, 90cm x 90cm of space is required for this plant. Plant them in the pit at a depth of 60cm. Mulberry cultivation benefits significantly from this method of propagation.
Requirements for Seed
4 kg of seeds is enough for one acre of land. Before sowing, keep the seeds in a cool place for 90 days. After storing, soak the seeds in water for 2 days, replacing the water. We should then soak the seeds for four days.
Weed Management
Mulberry farming necessitates weed-free fields. Weeds should be kept to a minimum on the land, especially during the initial and fruit-growing stages. Apply two weddings in the first six months, and We can give weed cutting after that.
Irrigation
Once a week, apply irrigation of 80 to 120 mm. It can save up to 40% of the water used. As a result, provide drip irrigation. It can also aid in faster growth.
Plant Defense
Plant protection entails protecting your crop from a variety of pests and diseases. Let’s talk about pests and diseases and how to control them in mulberry farming.
Disease and its management:
- Powdery mildew – Sulfex 80 WP (2g/l) @ 0.2 percent spray
- Spray Blitox 50 WP @ 300gm or Bavistin 50 WP @ 300gm on leaf rust.
- Leaf Spot – 300gm Bavistin Spray
- Sooty Mould – 200ml Monocrotophos Spray
- Bacterial Blight – 300gm spray of Bavistin solution
- Fungicide solution M-45 @ 300gm per 150 to 180 litre for Root-Knot Disease
Pests and their management:
- Stem Borer – Apply a 50:50 mixture of Kerosene and Chlorpyriphos.
- Caterpillar Eating Bark – Use Monocrotophos (Nuvacron36 WSC)
- Spray Carbaryl 50 WP @ 40gm in 10ltr of water on yellow and red wasps.
Harvesting
It is time to harvest the fruits when they turn dark red to purplish-red. Harvest the fruits early in the morning. Harvesting methods such as hand-picking or shaking are appropriate. Use nets, cotton, or plastic sheets beneath the tree when using the shaking process, as almost all of the ripened mulberries will fall on the plastic sheets.
Please leave your review or comment on our blog so that we can provide you with more reliable information. Read all the details carefully and apply what you’ve learned to your farming. It will give you better results. In addition, we will come up with additional farming tips and tricks. So, stay tuned for our next blog. Stay healthy, fit, and happy until then.
