Management of Macro- and Micro Nutrients in Soil and Mulberry Foliage in Peshawar, Pakistan

Macro- and micro nutrients were managed in soil and mulberry foliage through application of urea and diammonium phosphate (DAP). Urea at the rate of 608 kg/ha and DAP at the rate of 260 kg/ha was applied on six mulberry varieties. The results showed a deficiency in nitrogen, phosphorus, zinc and manganese in soil before the fertilizer application. Contrarily, high copper and potassium contents were found. After three weeks of fertilizer application, concentration of N, P, K and Fe in the soil almost doubled. Zinc and Cu contents decreased significantly (p 0.01). The highest N, P and K were found in mulberry variety PFI-1, M. latifolia and Karyansuban, respectively. The highest Cu and Mn were found in Kanmasi. The highest Zn and Fe were found in Husang and Karyansuban, respectively. A significant variation in uptake and retention of macro- and micro nutrients was found in the mulberry varieties after fertilizer application. The highest N was taken up by Kanmasi, while the highest P and K were taken up by Husang. Iron and Cu increased, and Zn and Mn decreased after week 3 of fertilizer application. Nitrogen was 1.5 to 2.6 times greater after week 6 of fertilizer application compared to before fertilizer application. Similarly, P and K were 4.7 to 6.6 times and 2.6 to 3.9 times greater, respectively. Based on these findings, it is concluded that urea in split doses and diammonium phosphate in single dose should be applied 3-4 weeks before the commencement of rearing of Mulberry Silkworm Moth for nutritionally rich mulberry foliage.