Influence of weather variables on different phenophases of mulberry

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to quantify the weather influence on different phenophases of mulberry in irrigated hot arid ecosystem of western Rajasthan during 2017- 2020. Mulberry plants remained in dormancy during January, and the break with catkin emergence was observed during late winter (26 February), when there was relatively higher humidity. The fruiting took place during mid-March to April, but some time got extended up to April end to May first week. The total span from catkin emergence to fruit harvesting observed 44±10 days. Hot and high wind velocity (>19 km/h) damaged the crop drastically, and rains during fruiting (April) extended the harvesting duration. Accumulated heat unit four years mean value was recorded as 461.03 degree days. The highest degree days (170.5 to 254.1 degree days) was recorded between first flower initiation (FFI) to date of end of flowering (DEF), while it was lowest (74.5 to 140.7 degree days) between first fruit harvest (FFH) to peak time harvest (PTH). The heat use efficiency was observed less in aberrant years due to poor yield. Relationship of phenophase (fruiting) and weather events presented negatively correlation with wind velocity and maximum temperature, while it was positive with rainfall.