Vol. 9, Issue 1, Part K (2025)

Mulberry (Morus spp.), the exclusive food for silkworms (Bombyx mori L.), plays a vital role in cocoon production. Despite the high-quality silk produced in Kashmir, the second cocoon crop during late summer/autumn faces serious challenges due to non-availability of quality leaf as a result of water scarcity, high temperature and erratic rainfall. This decreased leaf quality has a direct bearing with silkworm growth and development leading to reduced cocoon production and non-popularization of second cocoon crop at farmers’ level in the region. In the present era where water becomes a limiting factor for both domestic and agricultural purposes, mulching seems to be an effective soil management practice that will help conserve soil moisture, reduce evaporation, regulate soil temperature and improve plant growth and yield. To address the challenges faced during late summer/autumn silkworm rearing, the study involved the use of phytomulches—paddy straw, dried weeds, wood chaff, dried leaves, aquatic weeds, Typha, and sawdust— to test their efficacy in improving soil moisture, mulberry growth and leaf yield under rainfed conditions of Kashmir, Jammu and Kashmir. The experiment revealed that mulching with Typha(T6) significantly improved soil moisture content (15.74%) besides improving plant growth and yield. These findings testify that phytomulches, particularly Typha, offer a sustainable, eco-friendly solution for mitigating water stress and ensuring consistent mulberry leaf production, ultimately supporting sericulture during challenging seasons.