Effect of Organic Mulching on Yield and Quality of Mulberry Leaves Under Rain-Fed Condition

Abstract

    The experiment was conducted in two seasons in 2014 to determine the effects of 4 organic mulching materials: rice straw, rice husk, sawdust, groundnut residue on leaf yield and leaf quality of mulberry (Morus alba L) under rainfed condition. The field experiment with mulching was arranged in randomized complete block design while indoor feeding experiment of silkworm determine the quality of leaf mulberry was laid out using completely randomized design with 3 replecations. The results showed that organic mulching materials increased growth of mulberry plant, yield and quality of mulberry leaves. Leaf yield in organic mulching treatments was higher than control (no muching) from 31.5% to 51.8% in spring and from 8.3% to 54.2% in autumn and the cocoon yield increased from 9.2 - 15.2% and 5.1 - 16.8% in spring and autumn, respectively. Among organic materials, groundnut residue had the highest value in the total length of branch per plant, leaf thickness and leaf yield; silkworms were feed mulberry leaves from groudnut residue mulching treatment exhibited ncreased vitality and brought about higher cocoon weight in both seasons. The results also indicated that soil moisture content, soil organic matter content were improved by mulching with organic materials.