EFFECT OF SOIL HEALTH, NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT AND SOIL TEST BASED DOSES OF LIME ON MULBERRY LEAF YIELD (Morus alba L.) IN ACID SOILS OF KALIMPONG HILLS

R.L. RAM¹*, S. CHATTERJEE², C. MAJI³, P.K. SHARMA⁴, PRIYANKA RANI^5
1Regional Sericultural Research Station, Central Silk Board, Kalimpong-734 301, Darjeeling district, West Bengal, India
²Regional Sericultural Research Station, Central Silk Board, Kalimpong-734 301, Darjeeling district, West Bengal, India
³Regional Sericultural Research Station, Central Silk Board, Kalimpong-734 301, Darjeeling district, West Bengal, India
⁴Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221 005, Uttar Pradesh, India
⁵Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi-221 005, Uttar Pradesh, India
* Corresponding Author : ramlakhanram08@gmail.com

Received : 20-11-2016     Accepted : 02-12-2016     Published : 06-12-2016
Volume : 8     Issue : 59       Pages : 3333 - 3337
Int J Agr Sci 8.59 (2016):3333-3337

Keywords : Mulberry, Soil health, Nutrient Management, Acid soils, Lime
Academic Editor : Dr Milan M. Chudasama
Conflict of Interest : None declared
Acknowledgements/Funding : The first author sincerely acknowledges the Member Secretary, Central Silk Board, Bangalore for providing financial support and also Director, Central Sericultural Research and Training Institute, Berhampore for guidance and supervision, being an executive authority, during the course of this investigation
Author Contribution : R.L. Ram (Principal Investigator); S. Chatterjee (Co-Investigator); C. Maji (Co-ordinator); P.K. Sharma (Additional support); Priyanka Rani (Additional support)

A field experiment was conducted at 10 farmers field in 05 villages namely Kharka Busty, Balukhap Makaldara, Makaldara, Khani and Dolapchand in Kalimpong Block-I, Darjeeling district, West Bengal, India with four treatments and four replications to study the effect of soil health, nutrient management and STBD of lime on mulberry leaf yield (Morus alba L.). The soils are moderately deep to very deep in depth; dark yellowish brown (10 YR 4/4) to brown (10 YR 5/4 and 6/4) in colour; sandy loam to sandy clay loam texture; single grain to fine, medium, subangular blocky structure and clear to gradual smooth and gradual wavy horizon boundary. The pH of the soil was quite low with medium to high organic carbon and available nitrogen. The availability of NPK and S was low to medium. While analyzing the leaf yield data, it was found that, the maximum leaf yield was ranged from 5.41 to 7.03 mt ha-1 after the application of RD of nutrients and STBD of dolomite (T4) and minimum leaf yield range was 4.22 to 5.64 mt ha-1 with farmers existing practices (T1) in spring season. The cumulative leaf yield of T4 treatment was 20.87% higher over control. Likewise, in autumn season, maximum leaf yield was ranged from 4.49 to 5.91 mt ha-1 with T4 and minimum leaf yield ranged from 4.00 to 4.48 mt ha-1 T1 respectively. The cumulative leaf yield of T4 treatment was 19.18% higher than control. While analyzing the total leaf yield per annum, the maximum leaf yield among the farmers field was ranged from 9.96 to 12.94 mt ha-1 in T4 treatment followed by 9.68 to 12.35 mt ha-1 in T3, and minimum 8.33 to 10.012 mt ha-1 in T1 respectively. The total leaf of T4 was 20.08% higher over control.