Mulberry Cultivation: Silky Soil Secrets Varieties for Farmers

Mulberry cultivation is a versatile and valuable option for farmers. In India, it is grown for two main purposes: for its juicy fruits and for its leaves, which serve as the primary food source for silkworms. This makes it a key crop in sericulture, an important industry for silk production.

Mulberry plants are highly adaptable to various climatic conditions and are resilient even in adverse weather. However, to achieve the best results, it is essential to understand the specific soil and climate requirements for successful cultivation.

Right Soil Type

The ideal soil for a mulberry tree is fertile, loamy to clay-loamy in texture. While the soil should retain adequate moisture, it must also be porous enough to prevent waterlogging, which can lead to root rot. The ideal soil pH ranges from 6.2 to 6.8.

Before planting, the land should be ploughed to a depth of 30–35 cm to achieve a fine tilth. This helps eliminate weeds and aerate the soil. If the soil is not fertile, use manure or compost before planting the saplings.

Choosing the right variety according to the farm

Mullberry varieties are diverse, and different varieties require different climatic conditions. Selecting the right variety according to your soil condition and climate will provide you best results. The varieties are:

V-1: This is a fast-growing variety with good-quality leaves. It can produce an astounding 45 – 60 metric tonnes of fresh leaves per hectare annually. 

S-36: This variety offers a perfect balance of quantity and quality. These plants have nutritious and soft leaves ideal for silkworm rearing. This variety has good resistance against pests and diseases. It typically yields 35-45 metric tonnes per hectare.

S-13: This variety is well-suited for dry regions, as it can grow with minimal water and still produce good-quality leaves even with low rainfall.

S-34: It is a champion in performing well in a rainfed system. It has a large, deep root system and recovers well from droughts, rapidly starting up vigorous growth again. When moisture is available. Black cotton soils are especially well adapted for it.

Fruit production varieties:

White mulberry: This plant is native to Asia and is cultivated for both leaves and fruits. The fruits that are produced might be black, red, or white with a sweet and tangy twist.

Black mulberry: This is also native to Asia and has large, juicy fruits with a goodness of sweetness and tartness. 

Red mulberry: This variety is cultivated in North America. The red mulberry produces deep red to black fruit with a flavour that can rival the black mulberry.

Planting and maintenance: The growth phase

Mulberry is simple to propagate using stem cuttings. Farmers should take cuttings from branches that are 8–10 months old. Each cutting should be 15–20 cm long and have three to four healthy buds. One can plant these cuttings directly in the ground during the monsoon season (June to September), or you can start them in a nursery first and then transplant them later.

The cultivation method you choose will influence the spacing between your plants. A paired-row arrangement of (150 cm + 90 cm) × 60 cm is a common choice for bush-type plantations that use tractors. This layout lets you fit more plants in a given area and makes it easy to use machinery.

Regular pruning is essential for keeping your plants healthy. Each year, you should trim the plants to a height of about 15 to 30 cm. This practice helps you manage the size of the plant, which makes harvesting the leaves much easier. The primary purpose of pruning is to shape the plant and remove any dead, damaged, or overlapping branches to promote healthy growth and fruiting. The best time to prune mulberries is in early spring and late winter.

Mulberries are high-yielding, perennial crops that need a lot of nutrients. You should apply farmyard manure or compost once a year to enrich the soil. You can also apply a balanced NPK fertiliser in split doses throughout the season to encourage vigorous and sustained growth.

Harvesting and yield

Mulberry leaves are harvested multiple times a year for feeding silkworms. The stage of the silkworm’s development determines the harvesting method—either leaf picking, branch cutting, or whole-shoot harvesting. Under irrigated conditions, high-yielding mulberry varieties can produce up to 60 metric tonnes of leaves per hectare.

Fruit Harvesting:

Mulberry fruits do not ripen all at once, so several rounds of picking are necessary. A fruit is considered ripe when it is fully coloured and easily detaches from the stem. For larger trees, a common method involves spreading a tarp on the ground and gently shaking the branches to collect ripe berries. With proper care, a mature mulberry tree can yield a substantial crop each season.

Conclusion:

Mulberry cultivation is done for its leaves, mainly for silkworm rearing. Silk rearing is highly profitable as it is used to make clothes, shawls and others. By knowing the correct soil conditions, variety types, and cultivation methods, farmers can successfully cultivate mulberries, whether for the berries or sericulture.

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