Mulberry Leaf Productivity, Profitability and Soil Fertility as Influenced by Inorganic Fertilizers and Biofertilizers Under Intercropping System

A field experiment was conducted during kharif (I) and rabi (II) 2009-10 and 2010-11 at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu to study the effect of biofertilizers and inorganics applied to mulberry under intercropping system with green gram. Green gram intercropping significantly increased the mulberry leaf yield (8348 and 8464 kg/ha) in the first and second seasons, respectively and soil nutrient status (N, P and K) with the values of N (287 kg/ha), P (13.5 kg/ha), K (457 kg/ha) and organic carbon (0.76 per cent) and decreased pH (7.9) and electric conductivity (0.36 mmhos/m) of the soil with higher B/C ratio (2.07) as compared to pure crop of mulberry. Application of 100 per cent NPK (300120120 kg/ha/year) recorded higher leaf yield, soil fertility status and economics which was on par with application of Azophos 15 kg /ha/year with 50 per cent recommended N and P fertilizers.