Influence of Silkworm Litter Liquid Organic Manure on Soil Nutrient Status and Microbial Population in Mulberry Plantation

Mulberry (Morus sp.) is a deep-rooted high biomass producing foliage crop which is the sole food source for silkworm, Bombyx mori L. Hence, Mulberry growth and nutritional quality are critical for successful sericulture. With the increasing demand for sustainable agricultural practices particularly in rearing silkworms with chemical free mulberry leaves, the use of organic inputs has gained attention as an alternative to synthetic fertilizers. Silkworm litter, a by-product of silkworm rearing is rich in organic matter and essential nutrients, making it a potential resource for recycling into organic manure. This study explores the effectiveness of silkworm litter based liquid organic manure (SLLM) at different doses along with Recommended Dose of Fertilizers (RDF) in enhancing soil nutrients and microbiota. The treatment RDF + Soil drenching of 250 l acre-1 of 20% SLLM at 10 Days after pruning (DAP) + Foliar spray of 150 l acre-1 of 10 % SLLM at 25 DAP (T9) recorded maximum organic carbon content (0.82 %), NPK content (413.80, 32.43, 254.07 kg/ha respectively), micronutrients viz., Fe (2.72 ppm), Zn (2.64 ppm), Mn (32.06 ppm) and Cu (0.92 ppm) along with maximum soil bacteria (51.83 X 106 cfu g-1), fungi (6.50 X 102 cfu g-1) and actinomycetes (61.20 X 104 cfu g-1) besides supressing pathogen load. This shows that application of SLLM to soil in mulberry garden serves as an eco-friendly and efficient organic amendment for improving soil fertility and productivity in sericulture-based agroecosystems contributing to both organic sericulture and circular bio-resource management.