What are the advantages of VAM in mulberry cultivation?
[a] Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (VAM) inoculation for new mulberry plantation: Soil based inoculum of VA-mycorrhiza containing mixed culture of Glomus mosseae and G. fasciculatum is used for raising mycorrhizal mulberry saplings in nursery beds. About 5-6 months old mycorrhizal saplings are transplanted to the main field along with nursery soil containing VAM spores. Phosphorus can be used @ 60 kg / ha / yr instead of 120 kg / ha/ yr after one year of establishment. The VAM inoculation ensures 50% curtailment of chemical phosphorus application in mulberry cultivation without any loss in leaf yield and quality. [b] Inoculation of established mulberry garden with VA-mycorrhiza: To inoculate an established mulberry garden (more than 2 years old) with VA-mycorrhiza, at first the garden is pruned and intercultural operations are completed. VAM inoculum is applied @ 1000 kg / ha making furrows to a depth of 7.5 – 10 cm in between mulberry rows. After the application of VAM inoculum, mai
