RESPONSE OF MULBERRY TO SOURCES OF POTASSIUM IN RELATION TO LEAF YIELD, COCOON PRODUCTION AND GRAINAGE PARAMETERS

摘要

An experiment was conducted to study the efficacy of sources of potassium in combination with nitrogen on growth and yield of mulberry in relation to silkworm growth, cocoon yield, silk quality and grainage parameters at Main Research Station, University of Agricultural Sciences, Hebbal, Bangalore and another at farmer field at Anekal Bivoltine Seed Area, Bangalore district, Karnataka, India. The experimental results (average of 3 crops) revealed that application of nitrogen and potassium sulphate at higher level (400 : 180 kg ha~(-1) yr~(-1)) recorded significantly higher leaf yield per plant (236.80 g), per hectare (19,726 kg). Further, the same treatment recorded significantly higher mature worm weight (41.28 g), single cocoon weight (1.86 g). shell ratio (19.97%), less number of cocoons per kg (714) when compared to normal practice of application nitrogen and potassium chloride @ 300 : 120 kg ha~(-1) yr~(-1). In addition, when grainage the parameters were observed from these cocoons, the rate of moth emergence (76.75%), hatching percentage (91.42%) and fecundity (631/DFL) were higher, in the cocoons obtained from the worms fed on the mulberry leaves harvested from the plots receiving nitrogen and potassium sulphate @ 350:160 kg ha~(-1) yr~(-1).