Impact of water-soluble fertilizers on growth and yield of mulberry

Abstract

Field experiment was conducted during winter 2019 and summer 2020, at College of Sericulture, Chintamani – 563125 to study the impact of water-soluble fertilizers on growth and yield of mulberry. The results revealed that mulberry showed positive response to fertilizer levels. Growth and yield attributes were significantly higher under 125 per cent NPK through water-soluble fertilizers + FYM which was on par with 100 per cent NPK through water-soluble fertilizers + FYM and 75 per cent NPK through water-soluble fertilizers + FYM in both the seasons. But the Nutrient use efficiency is high in 75 per cent NPK through water-soluble fertilizers + FYM applied treatment. Significantly higher leaf yield of 802.85 g/plant was registered under fertilizer dose at 125 per cent NPK through water- soluble fertilizers + FYM. Nutrient use efficiency (NUE) was markedly decreased with higher fertilizer dose (i.e. 125%) than lower fertilizer dose (75% RDF). The results indicated that 12% and 13 per cent higher NUE was registered under 75 per cent NPK through water-soluble fertilizers + FYM compared to 125 per cent NPK through water-soluble fertilizers + FYM in winter and summer crop respectively. From the above study, it could be concluded that application of 75 per cent NPK through water-soluble fertilizers + FYM was found to be a suitable technology for achieving higher mulberry leaf yield with enhanced fertilizer use efficiency.