Influence of some factors in the crude protein yield of mulberry (morus alba l.) in Trujillo, Venezuela

An experiment was carried out in Trujillo state, Venezuela in order to study the effect of variety (Cubana, Indonesia, Tigreada, Acorazonada, Tailandesa, Guatemalteca and Criolla), cut frequency (60, 90 and 120 days), organic fertilization (0, 150 and 300 kgN/ha/year) on gross protein yield (PB) of leaves and edible stems of Mulberry ( Morus alba L.) in two seasonal periods (PLL and PPLL), using a randomized blocks design with factorial arrangement 7 x 3 x 3 and fi ve replicates for treatment. Significant interactions among the evaluated factors were not observed (P>0.05). Statistical differences in the proteic yield among varieties (leaves: 324.71- 365.17; edible stems: 26.47-30.83 kgPB/ha/cut) were not observed. However, in the PPLL the Indonesia (144.14 kgPB/ha/cut) and Guatemalteca (164,00 kgPB/ha/cut) varieties stood out for their yield on leaves, while the Cubana exhibited the lowest result on edible stems. In PLL, with 90 days between cut on leaves and the edible stems superior yields were observed. Nevertheless, in the PPLL the highest result on leaves was obtained with cut every 120 days, and every 90 days for edible stems. Independently of the part of the plant and the season, the biggest proteic yields were obtained with fertilization (edible biomass: 101.71-362.71 kgPB/ha/cut). The proteic yield of Mulberry presented a marked varietal influence in the PPLL, where the Indonesia and the Guatemalteca stood out. The spaced cut frequencies (90 and 120 days); and the fertilization influenced positively in the increase of the proteic yields of the specie.