Different lengths of cuttings and substrates for seedling production of mulberry (<i>Morus</i> spp.)

Abstract

This research aimed to establish techniques for producing seedlings of mulberry (Morus spp.) of low cost and easy use in the field. The study was conducted under greenhouse conditions using a randomized block design in factorial scheme. The following treatments were studied: three lengths of cuttings: 10, 20, 30 cm (bags of 500, 700 and 2000 mL, respectively), two types of substrates: substrate 1 (mixture of 3 m³ soil from a steep bank, 1 m³ of organic compost, with 6 kg of Yoorin®), and substrate 2 (commercial substrate Basaplant citrus® with Osmocote®), and five mulberry cultivars: Korin, IZ40, IZ3/2, IZ10/1 and IZ56/4. Cuttings of 30 cm showed a better fresh mass of sprouting seedlings followed by 20 and 10 cm. The substrate 2 provided better growth of cuttings in relation to substrate 1. The cultivar IZ10/1 stood out as for the growth of root and shoot.