Balanced Fertilization for Improved Nutrient use Efficiency and Mulberry Productivity

Aim: To study the effects of balanced fertilization in improving leaf yield, quality and nutrient use efficiency in mulberry.

Study Design: Experiment was conducted in randomized block design (RBD) consisting of 7 treatments in 3 replications.

Place and Duration of Study: The present study was conducted at Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute, Berhampore ((Latitude 24º05ʹN & Longitude 88º15ʹE; 18 m > MSL), West Bengal, India in two seasons during 2018 (July-August; September-October).

Methodology: Existing S-1635 mulberry plantation (10year-old; 60 cm × 60 cm spacing; net plot area: 32 m2) was utilized. Experiments were conducted in two seasons (July-August, 2018; September-October, 2018) in randomized block design (RBD) consisting of 7 treatments in 3 replications. The treatments in this study included, T1: 100% N-P2O5-K2O+S+Zn with Urea-SSP-10:26:26 + Bentonite Sulphur (8 kg ha-1) + Zinc Sulphate (1 kg ha-1) as BF; T2: 75% BF; T3: 100% N-P2O5-K2O alone (Urea-SSP-10:26:26); T4: 75% N-P2O5-K2O alone (Urea-SSP-10:26:26); T5: 100% N-P2O5-K2O alone (Urea-DAP-MOP); T6: 100% N-P2O5-K2O alone (Urea-SSP-MOP) as farmers′ practice (FP); T7: Nutrients omission plot (Control). The recommended fertilizer dose (100%) for irrigated mulberry production in the Eastern region is N-P2O5-K2O=67-36-22 kg ha-1 crop-1. All the fertilizers were applied in two equal splits on 15th and 30th day after pruning.

Results: This study reveals the importance of balanced fertilization of mulberry with N, P, K, S and Zn for sustainable productivity, which is reflected by the maximum values for leaf yield attributes, chlorophyll content and leaf yield. Further, mulberry leaf quality (in terms of total soluble protein and total soluble sugar) significantly improved with balanced fertilization. Higher PFP and AUE were also recorded with fertilization with compound/complex fertilizers than with straight fertilizers; but the balanced fertilization exhibited remarkable enhancement.

Conclusion: The results prove that balanced fertilization of N-P2O5-K2O @ 67-36-22 kg ha-1 (Urea-SSP-10:26:26) with Bentonite sulphur (8 kg ha-1) and zinc sulphate (1 kg ha-1) were effective in improving mulberry productivity through enhanced nutrient use efficiency. This could be useful for realizing maximum productivity in mulberry as an efficient nutrient management strategy in mulberry cultivation.