Abstract
In the valley of Kashmir, with temperate climatic conditions, the complete leaf fall in Mulberry occurs during November and the plants enter into dormancy. The sprouting of winter buds starts during the last week of March. Growth of Mulberry after the dormant period depends upon the food material accumulated in the stems/stumps during the previous autumn. Mulberry plants when subjected to leaf plucking during autumn exhibited a marked decline in growth and yield in following spring. When 100% leaf plucking was resorted to in autumn, sprouting of winter buds during the subsequent spring decreased by 14.29% and leaf yield per plant got reduced by 30.66% as compared to the plantation where no leaf plucking was done. The decline in yield and growth parameters may be attributed due to insufficient accumulation of food reserves in the plant by virtue of leaf plucking during autumn.
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