What light, temperature, water and soil conditions does mulberry tree growth require?

In China, mulberry trees are mostly distributed in the central region and the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, and they are now widely cultivated in both the north and the south. So specifically, what are the requirements of mulberry tree growth for light, temperature, water and soil?

1. Light

Mulberry trees are sun-loving plants and need sufficient light to grow and develop normally. In a mulberry plantation, measures such as a reasonable planting density, planting form, tree shape training and mulberry leaf picking methods are needed to regulate the population structure, so that light energy can be fully utilized and a high yield of mulberry leaves can be obtained.

2. Temperature

The suitable temperature range for mulberry tree growth is 25-37°C, and the most suitable temperature is 25-30°C. For traditionally cultivated Husang varieties, when the spring temperature rises above 12°C, the winter buds begin to sprout and grow, and in late autumn when the temperature drops to 12°C, they begin to shed leaves and enter dormancy. In recent years, the introduced and cultivated “Nongsang series” improved mulberry varieties sprout 10-15 days earlier than Husang varieties.

3. Water

Mulberry trees are leaf-use plants and consume a great deal of water. The water needed by mulberry trees is mainly absorbed from the soil through root hairs. The suitable soil water content for mulberry tree growth is 70%-80% of the soil's maximum water-holding capacity. In most years, Dali Prefecture has droughts in winter and spring, so mulberry plantations should be irrigated in spring at the right time to meet the water requirements of mulberry trees after they enter the growing period. However, if water accumulates in the mulberry plantation during the rainy season, it will cause the mulberry roots to carry out anaerobic respiration, resulting in physiological drought, and long-term water accumulation will cause mulberry tree growth to stop or even lead to death.

4. Air

There should be a certain amount of air circulation in the mulberry plantation to meet the requirements of mulberry tree respiration.

5. Soil

Soil is the foundation on which mulberry trees depend for survival. The water and various nutrient elements needed for the life activities of mulberry trees are basically taken up from the soil. Mulberry trees have well-developed root systems, and the soil layer thickness of land used for planting mulberry trees is required to reach more than 50 cm. The soil texture should preferably be loam or sandy loam. The red-yellow soils in many areas of Dali Prefecture are all suitable for planting mulberry trees. Mulberry trees grow well in neutral to slightly acidic soil, and the most suitable soil pH for mulberry tree growth is 6.5-7.

Soil fertility has a great influence on mulberry tree growth, and the soil fertility of land used for planting mulberry trees is required to reach medium fertility or above.