1.

Project Code

:

-

2.

Title

:

Studies on phosphate supplementation to mulberry through microbial association and biofertilizers - Isolation, screening and utilization of phosphate solubilizing microorganisms to improve growth and yield of mulberry

3.

Investigators

:

Sukumar J,Padma SD,Thimma Reddy H,Nagendra Kumar TD

4.

Project period

:

1996 - 2000

5.

Institute/ University

:

Karnataka State Sericulture Research and Development Institute, Bangalore, Karnataka

6.

Project cost

:

-

7.

Objectives

• Detailed study on the PSMs for mulberry cultivation

8.

Important findings

The PSM inoculum containingB. megaterium, MPM-1,A. awamoriandA.nigercan be incorporated into the agronomic package to improve P use efficiency and leaf yield in mulberry. However, care should be taken while preparing the fungal inoculum since enormous amount of spores are released which could be harmful to the workers.

The inoculum should be used at 10 kg of lignite based inoculum/acre/year in two equal split doses. The first dose should be provided at the beginning of first harvest soon after basal pruning in the month of June and the second dose after two harvests and at the beginning of 3rd harvest.

The inoculum should be applied along with farmyard manure (FYM). For this purpose FYM should be applied in two split doses.

P fertilizers viz., super phosphate alone, super phosphate and rock phosphate and rock phosphate alone can be used along with the inoculants. Use of rock phosphate can be decided based on soil testing and the full quantity can be applied in one dose. A 25% reduction in P application can be achieved through the PS inoculants.

B. megateriumandA. brasilensecan be used together for synergistic effect to increase leaf yield, N & P uptake. A 25% reduction in N and P fertilizer application can be achieved through these organisms.B. megateriumandA. brasilensehave to be applied at 10 and 8 kg/acre/yr, respectively, in two equal split doses.

Roots of saplings can be dipped in a slurry of inoculum prior to planting to enhance profuse root development and better establishment of saplings in the field.

Phosphate solubizing biofertilizer technology for mulberry was developed. A product ‘Seriphos’- a P solubilizing bio-fertilizer for mulberry was developed.