Influence of soil application of micronutrients on shoot growth and foliage characteristics of mulberry

Field experiment was conducted at field No. 68 of Eastern Block, Department of Sericulture, Agricultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, during 2012–13 to evaluate the impact of soil application of micronutrients on mulberry shoot growth, leaf yield and quality of mulberry. The experiments were laid out in Randomized Block Design with three replications. Different single application treatment and combined soil application of 25 kg ZnSO₄ ha⁻¹, 50 kg FeSO₄ ha⁻¹, 25 kg MnSO₄ ha⁻¹ and 10 kg Borax ha⁻¹ were imposed in mulberry. Combined soil application 25 kg ZnSO₄ ha⁻¹+ 50 kg FeSO₄ ha⁻¹ + 25 kg MnSO₄ ha⁻¹ +10 kg Borax ha⁻¹ increased the shoot length (169.41 and 142.94 cm), number of shoots per plant (13.1 and 12.8 numbers), number of leaves per shoots (38.4 and 33.84 numbers), number of leaves per plant (371 and 359 numbers), leaf test weight (427 and 379 g) and foliage yield (11928 tha⁻¹) which was 59% over control (7089 tha⁻¹). The additional dose of micronutrients also increased the quality parameters like leaf crude protein, chlorophyll content and moisture retention capacity of mulberry leaves. This effective micronutrients combination increased the yield and quality of mulberry leaves and also enhanced the cocoon and silk quality with improved soil fertility.