Mulberry Cultivation and Management
Domain focus
Mulberry cultivation and management covers establishment, propagation, pruning, nutrition, irrigation and pest control. The exam tests variety choice, spacing, nursery practice, leaf quality and the link between field management and cocoon yield.
Core rules and concepts
- Mulberry grows best on well-drained loam with pH around 6.2–6.8 and full sunlight; it is propagated mainly by stem cuttings, with grafting used for improvement.
- Common varieties include S1, S13, V1, Kanva-2 (K2) and TR-10; selection depends on leaf yield, quality and local adaptation.
- Irrigated planting often uses 60 cm × 60 cm spacing; rainfed planting uses wider spacing to reduce competition.
- Training and pruning regulate leaf harvest. Bottom pruning removes old growth after harvest; shoot harvesting supplies tender leaves for young larvae and mature leaves for late instars.
- Apply farmyard manure and balanced NPK after pruning, irrigate at critical stages, and control thrips, mealybug and leaf spot through integrated practices.
Worked example
A one-hectare plot is planted at 60 cm × 60 cm. Area = 10,000 m²; each plant occupies 0.6 × 0.6 = 0.36 m²; plant number ≈ 10,000 ÷ 0.36 = 27,778. If spacing is widened to 90 cm × 90 cm, each plant occupies 0.81 m² and the number falls to about 12,346. Reasoning: plant population is area divided by spacing area; wider spacing reduces plant number but may improve light and air.
Traps that cost marks
Reversing wider and narrower plant counts; pruning at the wrong time; using mature leaves for young worms; confusing K2 with a fertilizer; ignoring drainage.