Abstract

Significant variation was recorded in various quantitative parameters of the mulberry with the application of various bio-inoculants like phosphate solubilising microorganisms, nitrogen fixing bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. The longest shoot length was recorded in T₄ (175.43 cm) receiving 350: 140 kg/ha/year N and P along with co-inoculation followed by T₆ (172.78 cm) receiving 175: 70 kg/ha/year N and P along with co-inoculation respectively. The treatment T₈ receiving 175 kg nitrogen and 70 kg phosphorus/ha/year (with rock phosphate as a source of P) has indicated significantly higher number of shoots per plant (6.43) as compared to T₀ control recording only (5.64) number of shoots per plant.  Significantly higher number of leaves per shoot was recorded in treatment T₈ (27.53) as compared to the rest of the treatments including T₀ (26.37) as control. The study also clearly indicated that it is possible to curtail the application of nitrogenous and phosphatic fertilizers in mulberry cultivation to an extent of 25 to 50% without any adverse effect on leaf yield and quality by supplementing nitrogen and phosphorus through the use of nitrogen fixing bacteria Azotobacter, phosphate solubilizing bacteria, fungi and VA-mycorrhiza. The studies on economics of using bio-inoculants in mulberry also indicated that approximately Rs 2000 to 4500 /ha/year can be saved only on the input cost of nitrogen and phosphorus in mulberry cultivation.

Key words: Mulberry, biofertilisers, economics.