Planting Methods and Variety Selection for Mulberry Trees on Steep Slopes and Hilly Terraces
Different geographical and topographical environments require different considerations and variety choices when planting mulberry trees, so how do you plant mulberry trees on steep slope farmland and hilly terraces? What varieties are good to choose?
If planting mulberry trees on steep slope farmland, we can adopt 3 models for planting.
Model 1
Intercropped mulberry plantation on steep-slope horizontal terraces
Model objective: Make full use of farmland resources, combine with basic farmland construction projects, expand the mulberry plantation area, maximize the land's production potential, and at the same time effectively control soil erosion on steep slope farmland. Mulberry leaf yield per 667m2 reaches over 1000 kg, and total income from sericulture and intercrops reaches over 800 yuan.
① Suitable area: Steep slopes with a gradient of 25-30 degrees, relatively deep soil layers, and good soil quality.
② Variety selection: Husang No. 32, Gelusang, Nongsang series.
③ Plantation layout: First build horizontal terraces 2-3m wide along the contour lines, then plant mulberry trees along the terrace edges with a plant spacing of 0.8-1.0m.
④ Intercropping pattern: Tuber crops, legume crops, vegetables, peanuts, etc. can be planted in the terraces.
⑤ Cultivation method: Conventional cultivation in the middle of the terraces, with weeding and fertilizing around the mulberry tree root zones.
⑥ Pruning method: Winter-spring pruning, trained into medium-low trunk tree form.
⑦ Fertilization and cultivation management: Formula fertilization, with increased application of nitrogen fertilizer and organic fertilizer.
Model 2
Ecological mulberry plantation with wide rows and dense plants along steep-slope contour lines
Model objective: Control soil erosion and expand the mulberry planting area. Enable the sericulture industry and ecological environment construction to develop in sync. Mulberry leaf yield per 667m2 reaches over 1200 kg, and total income from sericulture and intercrops reaches over 800 yuan.
① Suitable area: Steep slopes with a gradient of 30-35 degrees, relatively deep soil layers, good soil quality, and good sunlight.
② Variety selection: Husang No. 32, Gelusang, Nongsang series.
③ Plantation layout: Mulberry planted along contour lines with wide rows and dense plants. Row spacing 2.0-2.5m, plant spacing 0.5-0.8m.
④ Intercropping pattern: Plant daylily between mulberry plants.
⑤ Cultivation method: The mulberry plantation only requires weeding and fertilizing, with no-till. After 3-4 years, the mulberry trees and daylily can form a soil-retaining barrier.
⑥ Pruning method: Winter-spring pruning, trained into medium-low trunk tree form.
⑦ Fertilization and cultivation management: Formula fertilization, with increased application of phosphorus and potassium fertilizers.
Model 3
Ecological mulberry plantation on steep-slope horizontal stone-banked terraces
Model objective: Make full use of farmland resources, build basic farmland, expand the mulberry planting area, maximize the land's production potential, and at the same time effectively control soil erosion on steep slope farmland. Mulberry leaf yield per 667m2 reaches over 600 kg, and total income from sericulture and intercrops reaches over 500 yuan.
① Suitable area: Steep slopes with a gradient of 25-40 degrees in rocky mountainous areas.
② Variety selection: Husang No. 32, Nongsang No. 14, 792.
③ Plantation layout: Build horizontal stone-banked terraces along contour lines with terrace bank spacing of 3-4m, plant mulberry trees on the outer side of the terrace banks where the soil layer is thicker, with a plant spacing of 0.8-1.0m.
④ Intercropping pattern: Plant Chinese alpine rush or daylily along the stone banks; wider terraces can be intercropped with legumes, medicinal herbs, or other crops.
⑤ Cultivation method: Conventional cultivation between terraces, with fertilizing and weeding around the mulberry tree root zones. During cultivation, pay attention to mounding soil toward the stone banks to eventually form a certain reverse-slope angle, preventing rainwater seepage and stone bank landslides.
⑥ Management method: Winter-spring pruning, trained into medium trunk tree form.
⑦ Fertilization and cultivation management: Formula fertilization, with increased application of nitrogen fertilizer, organic fertilizer, and micronutrient fertilizers.
If on hilly terraces, we can adopt the ecological forest planting model of mulberry trees on field ridges, as follows:
Model objective: Green and protect terrace field ridges, prevent soil erosion, improve the ecological environment, accelerate the conversion and utilization of mulberry leaves, and increase farmers' economic income.
① Suitable area: Terraces in hilly and mountainous areas.
② Variety selection: Gelusang series
③ Plantation layout: Plant spacing of 2-2.5m, single-row planting on field ridges.
④ Management method: Pruning by the trunk-emerging method, trained into medium-high trunk tree form.