New method for raising mulberry in nursery:

In sericulture, mulberry saplings are commercially produced from cuttings under raised or flat bed system.

The success of sprouting and vigour of the sapling are greatly influenced by competing weeds, soil moisture, and soil temperature.

Since water and labour availability/expenditure on weeding are the hurdles nowadays, a new method of raising mulberry saplings using polythene sheets is developed to overcome these difficulties, which practically proved very effective for successful production of quality mulberry saplings for commercial purpose.

Method

After ploughing the land to 30 to 40 cm depth and application of 8 to 10 metric tonnes of farm yard manure, the land is to be levelled. Nursery beds are prepared with an irrigation channel three fourth common for both sides of beds.

Black polythene sheets cut to the size of 15 feet x 5 feet are to be placed on the bed and 6 to 8 months old disease-free mulberry cuttings (15 to 20 cm length with 3 buds) are to be inserted into the polythene-covered nursery bed soil at the spacing of 10 cm x 10 cm.

Channel irrigation is to be done over the polythene itself once in a week or 10 days depending upon the soil texture of the area.

Benefits

By this method weeds can be totally arrested, as they do not get sunlight. Thus, no weeding is required throughout the nursery period (four months), which saves huge expenditure on manual weeding.

Since there are no weeds to compete with the growing mulberry saplings, they get the maximum soil nutrients, resulting in high vigour and growth, producing quality saplings. Unlike other methods, irrigation can be reduced to 50 per cent, as the polythene cover over the soil significantly reduces the soil temperature and prevents water evaporation, thus conserving soil moisture.

Income

By this method, about 2.30 to 2.40 lakhs saplings can be produced per acre in four months period with an increased average income of Rs. 50,000 over the other methods.