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How to Grow Mulberry (Shahtoot) in Andhra Pradesh

A hands-on guide for Andhra Pradesh growers on establishing and managing mulberry (shahtoot) orchards, with emphasis on variety choice, soil, planting, and routine care for fruit and leaf production.

Ranjeet Natarajan
Ranjeet Natarajan August 9, 2026 6 min read 1,165 words
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How to Grow Mulberry (Shahtoot) in Andhra Pradesh

Introduction

Mulberry (shahtoot) is a multi-purpose tree: fruit for fresh and processed markets, and leaves for sericulture. In Andhra Pradesh its fast growth and adaptability make it a good choice for smallholders and orchardists. This guide focuses on practical steps you can use on-farm — from site selection to harvest and simple pest control.

Climate and Soil Requirements

Mulberry performs best in warm climates with mild winters. In Andhra Pradesh, coastal and inland districts with 600–1200 mm annual rainfall are suitable with supplemental irrigation. Young plants tolerate light frost briefly but common varieties prefer frost-free conditions.

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Soil: Mulberry adapts to a range of soils but prefers deep, well-drained loams with good organic content. Avoid waterlogged soils — poor drainage increases root rot risk. Soil pH 6.0–7.5 is ideal; acidic soils benefit from liming before planting.

Choosing Varieties

There are many local and improved strains. Broadly, choose according to your production goal:

  • Fruit production: Select varieties known locally for larger berries, good flavor and firmness for market or processing. Ask local nurseries or horticulture extension about performance in your district.
  • Leaf production (sericulture): Use varieties bred for high leaf yield and good nutritive quality for silkworms; these may differ from fruit types.
  • Dual-purpose: Some types balance decent fruit and leaf yields; useful if you plan both markets.

Buy grafted or budded saplings from reputable nurseries to get true-to-type plants and earlier fruiting. For large-scale leaf production, uniform clones from cuttings or root suckers are commonly used.

Land Preparation and Planting

Timing: Plant at the start of the rainy season where possible (June–July) so young plants establish with minimal irrigation. In irrigated contexts planting outside the monsoon is fine if you can water reliably.

Land prep:

  • Clear weeds and debris, plough to a fine tilth and incorporate well-rotted farmyard manure or compost at 10–20 t/ha depending on soil organic matter.
  • Dig pits 45–60 cm cube for heavier soils, 30–40 cm for lighter soils. Mix topsoil with compost and a handful of neem cake or rock phosphate if recommended locally.

Spacing depends on purpose:

  • For high-density leaf production: 3 m x 3 m or tighter, allowing for frequent pruning and easy leaf harvest.
  • For fruit orchards aiming at larger canopy: 5 m x 5 m or 6 m x 6 m to allow machinery or people to move and to promote larger fruits.

Planting: Water the pit before placing the sapling. Place the graft union above soil level, backfill, firm the soil and water. Mulch around the base with straw or compost to conserve moisture and suppress weeds.

Establishment Care

Watering: Keep young plants moist. In the dry season irrigate every 7–10 days initially, then extend intervals as roots establish. For established trees, irrigation frequency depends on rainfall; regular water during flowering and fruit development improves yields and fruit size.

Weed control: Remove competing weeds for at least the first 2–3 years. Use shallow hoeing or hand-weeding to avoid root damage. Maintain a weed-free basin around each tree.

Fertilizer and Nutrition

Base fertilizer doses on soil testing where possible. As a practical guideline:

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  • Young trees (first 2 years): Apply balanced NPK with higher nitrogen to encourage vegetative growth, split into 2–3 applications during the growing season. Use organic manures to build soil health.
  • Mature trees: Apply annual fertilizer in split doses—more nitrogen during active growth, and potassium during fruiting to improve fruit quality. Apply compost or FYM every year to sustain soil organic matter.

Micronutrients: Monitor for deficiencies (leaf yellowing, poor growth). Zinc and boron can be limiting in some Andhra soils; foliar sprays or soil applications based on deficiency signs or testing are effective.

Pruning and Training

Pruning shapes the tree and controls vegetative vs fruiting balance:

  • Initial training: For fruit orchards, select 3–4 well-placed scaffold branches to form a vase or open-center system during the first 1–2 years.
  • For leaf production: Encourage bushy regrowth; coppicing or pollarding every 6–12 months encourages multiple shoots for repeated leaf harvests.
  • Annual pruning: Remove dead, diseased and weak wood. Thin crowded branches to improve light and air circulation which reduces disease incidence.

Irrigation Practices

Efficient water use is key in Andhra Pradesh summers. Drip irrigation is highly effective for mulberry, supplying steady moisture and reducing disease from foliage wetting. Apply higher water volumes at critical stages: shoot flush, flowering and fruit enlargement.

Pests and Diseases — Practical Management

Common issues include webworms, mealybugs, scales and fungal leaf spots. For sericulture, silkworm health makes leaf cleanliness paramount.

  • Monitor regularly: Early detection saves sprays and yield loss. Inspect lower and upper leaf surfaces.
  • Cultural control: Maintain sanitary orchards by removing infested shoots and pruning to improve airflow. Avoid excess nitrogen late in the season which can boost soft, pest-prone growth.
  • Biologicals and soft chemistry: Use neem-based products, Bacillus thuringiensis for caterpillars, and insecticidal soaps for soft-bodied pests where registered and effective locally.
  • Fungal issues: Ensure good drainage and avoid overhead irrigation at night; apply registered fungicides if disease becomes severe and follow label instructions.

Work with local extension or sericulture officers for specific pest cycles and recommended products in your district.

Harvesting and Post-harvest

Fruits: Harvest when fully colored and slightly soft depending on variety. Mulberries do not ripen well off-tree, so pick carefully and handle gently. For markets, pack in shallow trays with cooling when possible to extend shelf life.

Leaves: For sericulture, harvest fresh, clean leaves. Schedule harvests to match leaf flushes; avoid gathering leaves contaminated with dust, pesticide residues or diseased material.

Intercropping and Systems Integration

Mulberry fits well in mixed systems:

  • Intercrop annual vegetables or legumes between young rows for income while the orchard establishes.
  • Agroforestry: Combine with shade-tolerant fruit trees or fodder shrubs in wider spacings.
  • Livestock: Pruned branches and leaves can contribute to fodder, but check nutritional suitability for your animals.

Economics and Market Tips

Decide early whether you’ll target fresh fruit markets, processing (jam, juice), or leaf markets for sericulture — this influences variety, spacing and management. Local demand fluctuates; connect with buyer groups, sericulture units, or processors before scaling up. Start with a pilot block to understand labour needs, input costs and market preferences.

Practical Checklist for Andhra Pradesh Growers

  • Select variety based on intended product (fruit vs leaf) and source plants from trusted nurseries.
  • Prepare soil well, add organic matter and correct pH if needed.
  • Choose spacing suited to your harvesting system and available labour.
  • Use mulching and drip irrigation to conserve soil moisture and reduce disease.
  • Prune routinely—coppice for leaf production, scaffold for fruit trees.
  • Monitor pests and diseases weekly and use cultural and biological controls first.
  • Arrange market linkages before large-scale planting.

Where to Get Local Help

Contact your nearest agriculture extension office, sericulture department, or horticulture nursery for variety recommendations and region-specific management. Local farmers and cooperative societies can provide practical tips adapted to district climate and markets.

Conclusion

Mulberry (shahtoot) can be a productive component of Andhra Pradesh farms when matched to site, variety and market. Focus on good planting material, soil health, water management and timely pruning. Start small, learn the crop cycles on your land, and scale up once you have reliable harvests and buyers.

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Ranjeet Natarajan
Ranjeet Natarajan

Contributing writer at Agriculture Novel — telling the stories that sustain us.

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