Foliar urea fertilization enhanches mulberry leaf yield and cocoon productivity

Foliar spray of urea may improve mulberry leaf yield, quality and cocoon productivity. But, it is not clear how foliar spray of urea influence mulberry leaf yield, quality and cocoon productivity. Therefore, two years field experiments were carried out in the experimental field of Bangladesh Sericulture Research and Training Institute (BSTRI), Rajshahi, Bangladesh. The objective of this study was to quantify the effect of foliar spray of urea on mulberry plant growth, yield, leaf quality and silk cocoon productivity. This study consisted of seven treatments,T1 (Recommended Basal Dose, RBD) = 305 kg N/ha/yr, 105kg P/ha/yr and 66 kg K/ha/yr, T2 = 2.5 % urea solution 3 times foliar sprays, T3 = 3.5 % urea solution 3 times foliar sprays, T4 = 4.5 % urea solution 3 times foliar sprays,T5 = RBD + 2.5 % urea solution 3 times foliar sprays, T6 = RBD + 3.5 % urea solution 3 times foliar sprays and T7 = RBD + 4.5 % urea solution 3 times foliar spray were used for mulberry plant production. The leaf yield of mulberry plant was increased 6.26% and the crude protein, total sugar, mineral and soluble carbohydrate also increased 7.14%, 4.49%, 4.95% and 4.30% respectively as well as the silk cocoon productivity was 32.31% greater in treatment T5than to the treatment of T1.This study concluded that existing BSRT recommended basal dose (RBD) along with 3 times foliar spray of 2.5 % urea at 30 days after pruning (DAP), 45 DAP and 60 DAP respectively performed well and successfully augments the productivity and biochemical constituents of mulberry plant as well as cocoon productivity.