Impact of agronomic practices on the productivity of mulberry (Morus alba L.) G4 variety

Abstract

A field experiment was carried out in a newly established mulberry garden in Akuthotapalli, Anantapur district, Andhra Pradesh, from 2021 to 2023. The study used the G4 mulberry variety and employed a split-split plot design, incorporating four different spacing patterns: 5’x 5’ (tree type), 2’x 2’, 3’x 1’, and 6’x 3’x 2’, along with varying fertilizer doses. The findings revealed that the T3 spacing (3’x 1’) combined with the F3 (NPK) fertilizer treatment had a positive effect on both leaf weight and plant height. The research indicated that although the wider 90 x 90 cm spacing resulted in a notably higher NPK content in the leaves compared to the 60 x 60 cm spacing, the closer spacing yielded a significantly greater leaf output. This implies that while wider spacing enhances the nutritional value of the leaves, it does not lead to an overall increase in yield per hectare, as the number of plants per unit area is reduced.