Effect of Pruning Height on Growth of five Morus species

JOURNAL OF FOREST PRODUCTS & INDUSTRIES, 2013, 2(2), 27-30 ISSN:2325 – 4513(PRINT) ISSN 2325 - 453X (ONLINE)28characters <strong>of</strong> silkworm cocoons [8]. Morus Latfo1ia, M.ichikie husung, shinichiflose and M. alba were planted inNational Agricultural Research Centre in Islamabad in 1993 intrial for silkworm rearing. The best growth obtained was withM. latfotia, ichihie and husung respectively [9]. <strong>Pruning</strong> heighton leaf <strong>of</strong> Mulberry (Morus alba) variety Kanava - 2 wasstudied by [10] showed an increase in leaf yield with higherpruning heights. Similar results were obtained for mulberryvariety Sujanpur. The result also indicated that pruning shouldnot be done immediately after crop harvest under thesubtropical conditions. Studies revealed rearing <strong>of</strong> silkwormfed on mulberry leaves from plant pruned at higher stumpsheight [10]. In a study during (1977-1981) in Sao Paulo,Mulberry plants at 1.5 x 1.0 m, spacing were pruned inOctober, January and April to soil level, 15, 20, or 45 cmheights. All pruned to soil level in winter (July). Leaves andbranches were harvested (for silkworm production) wererecorded no significant differences between treatments inaverage leaf and branch production [11]. Morus lactea(Mildder) is a tree up to 26 m, bole 6-18 in high. Morusmesozygia (Stapt) large trees up to 30 - 40 m. high, bole cleanup to 20m. Morus alba anative to Asia is grown in manygardens, but with limited success [12]. Higher the survival %,better will be the performance mulberry varities. Studiesevaluated propagation parameters <strong>of</strong> mulberry varieties, likesprouting survival rate and shoot growth was found asignificant variation in growth [13]. Propagation <strong>of</strong> mulberryis done through vegetative means such as cuttings or bygrafting so as to preserve the phenotypic characters [14].Mulberry trees are pruned in sericulture twice or three times ayear to obtain a better yield <strong>of</strong> leaves [15].The purpose <strong>of</strong> this study was to determine the effect <strong>of</strong>pruning height on survival and growth <strong>of</strong> five Morus species.II. MATERIALS AND METHODSThe study was investigated in Dindir nursery, Dindir town,Sinnar State during 2000-2003. The weather is generally hotand dry with rainy season between July and September. Themean annual rainfall is between 400 and 450 mm. in the Northand between 600 mm and 1000 mm, in South. Temperatureranges between 20 ° C and 42 ° C. The coolest months <strong>of</strong> theyear are December, January, and February while the hottestmonths are March to June.pruning. The assessment was carried from the coppice plants.The leaves and branches fresh weight per plant, wasdetermined after three months from pruning height <strong>of</strong> the firsttreatment. Statistical analysis system (SAS) was used for dataanalysis, Duncan’s multiple range test was used to defer minesignificance <strong>of</strong> difference between means.III. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION<strong>Effect</strong> <strong>of</strong> pruning height on leaves and branches weightThe leaves and branches weight per pruned tree were notaffected by pruning height in the first harvest (Table 1 a).However the effect <strong>of</strong> pruning height was highly significant inthe second harvest (Table 1 b). The weight <strong>of</strong> leaves andbranches was higher with high pruning height (Table a b).<strong>Effect</strong> <strong>of</strong> pruning height in coppice growth<strong>Pruning</strong> height had significant effect on height, leaves andbranches number in the coppice after three month from thefirst harvest. <strong>Pruning</strong> at height 40 cm gave higher valuescompared to the low pruning heights (Table 2). Theperformance <strong>of</strong> the original growth <strong>of</strong> the five Morus testedspecies in term <strong>of</strong> leaves number, leaves weight and branchesnumber, branches weight, Morus alba showed high values,followed by M. mesosygia, M. acidosa, M.inallotiflia, whileM. tiliaefolia showed low values (Table 3). This is in line withthat reported by [13].Table (1)Weight <strong>of</strong> leaves and branches in the first harvest and secondharvest at different pruning heights’(A): First Harvest (five month old plants)pruning height(cm)40205Weight <strong>of</strong> leaves(kg) p (0.8)0.75 a0.69 a0.64aWeight <strong>of</strong>branches(kg) p (0.75)0.65 a0.63 a0.55aPr= 0.8 0.75Means with same letter in the same columns are notsignificantly different at 0.05 level using Duncan multipletests.Uniform propagules <strong>of</strong> five Morus species (M. alba, M.mesozygia, M. acidosa, M. tiliaefolia and M. mallotifolia)were transferred from the nursery (Where they were raised)and planted in designated plots according to the tested spacingin April 2000 within two days period.Three pruning (Lopping) heights were applied to five speciesat the tested spacing the tested pruning heights were at 5 (m)20 and 40 cm from ground level. The first pruning was appliedafter five month from planting and the second one for thesame plants at the same heights after 3 months from the first

JOURNAL OF FOREST PRODUCTS & INDUSTRIES, 2013, 2(2), 27-30 ISSN:2325 – 4513(PRINT) ISSN 2325 - 453X (ONLINE)29(b): Second harvest (three months after the first harvest)pruning height(cm)40205Weight <strong>of</strong> leaves(kg)0.48 a0.29b0.19bWeight <strong>of</strong> branches(kg)0.46 a0.3Oab0.24bPr = 0.0001 0.02Means with same letter in the same columns are notsignificantly different at 0.05 level using Duncan multipletests.Table (2)Mean height, number <strong>of</strong> leaves and branches in the secondharvest (after three month from the first harvest).<strong>Pruning</strong>height<strong>Height</strong> <strong>of</strong>branchesNo. <strong>of</strong>leavesNo. <strong>of</strong>branches(cm)40205(cm)30.14 a24.21b17.20c167al0ib33c34.90 a19.l0b5.60cPr = 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001Means with same letter in the same columns are notsignificantly different 0.05 levels using Duncan multiple tests.Table (3)Performance <strong>of</strong> the original growth <strong>of</strong> the five Morus speciesinvestigated in term <strong>of</strong> leave number, leave weight, branchnumber, and branch weight per plant at the age <strong>of</strong> threemonths coppiced plants.LeavesBranchesLeavesBranchesSpeciesWeightWeightNumberNumber(kg)(kg)M. albaM. mesozygiaM. acidosaM. mallotifoliaM. tiliaefolia131.90a113.30 a107.70a103.10 a31.70 b0.54a0.48 a b0.3lcb0.25 c d0.07 d28.20a24.90a23.25a11.90 b12.30 b0.56a0.46 a b0.30b0.28 b0.0b cPr = 00002 0.0001 0.0006 0.0006Mean with same letter in the same columns are notsignificantly different at 0.05 level using Dunken multipletests.<strong>Pruning</strong> height and frequency on yield and growthThe pruning height has no effect on leaves weight in theoriginal plant growth, but with marked effect in the coppice,which is similar to that reported by [10]. Trees pruned at 40cm from ground level, gave high production <strong>of</strong> coppicedleaves and branches, compared with those pruned at 5 cm, 20cm from ground level. This is in line with the study conductedin Jammu and Kashmir by [10]. He showed an increase on leafyield, with higher pruning height, for the coppice <strong>of</strong> Morusalba variety Kanava -2 and variety Sujanpur. And opposite to[11] who recorded no significant differences betweentreatments in average leaf and branch production. The result <strong>of</strong>this study showed an expectation opportunity <strong>of</strong> producinghigh quality cocoons at high pruning height (40 cm) as statedby [8]. The result also showed that Morus alba produced highquantity <strong>of</strong> leaves than other species which in line with resultreported by [5] and [6].The Morus species trees can be pruned more than once a year(every three month) this result agreed by [15] who stated thatmulberry trees can be pruned twice or three times a years. Bycomparing the weight <strong>of</strong> leaves and branches <strong>of</strong> the firstharvest (age 5 month) and coppice yield (after 3- month)indicate reasonable growth every three months. In managingfodder trees in Rwanda, [16] recommended cutting every 3 to4 month for Morus alba in an agro-forestry system. The time<strong>of</strong> pruning was not significant as reported by [10]. He reportedno significant difference in number <strong>of</strong> leaf, number <strong>of</strong> branchfor trees pruned in October, January and April to soil level or15, 20 and 45 cm height. The study revealed that 8 tons <strong>of</strong>leaves can be produced in single hectare at 40 cm pruningheight, this result laid in the same range <strong>of</strong> that reported by [3]who stated 5-12.1 tons.IV. CONCULSIONThe inter-specific variation was significant in coppice growth.<strong>Pruning</strong> height is a significant factor, in the yield per plant incoppice growth. The higher the pruning height the morefoliage production achieved. The pruning height <strong>of</strong> 40 cmfrom ground is significantly higher than 20 and 5 cm in thecoppice growth. Frequent pruning will result in highproductivity per unit area. This result will encourage aninvestment on mulberry field for silk production, food,medicine and poultry, beside contribution on eradication <strong>of</strong>poverty in rural areas, perhaps national income.REFERENECES[1] UMa, H.P, Gowramma, Bajpai, A.K, Sinha, A.k, (1992). “SilkHandicraft Source <strong>of</strong> Lucrative Rearing”. 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