The fertility of soil in general plays the key role in the development of any crop plants and mulberry is no exception for it. The growth and leaf nutrient status of mulberry plant varies in different geographic locations and geo-climatic conditions as the soil conditions changes. Demand for essential nutrient supply to the soils ever growing due to intensive cropping systems. Therefore, additional supplementation of required organic and inorganic nutrients to retain the desired levels of soil nutrient status in mulberry is imperative for sustainable leaf production. With the above objective in the present study a total of 2067 composite soil samples were collected from the traditional sericultural areas of 20 clusters under Cluster Promotion Programme (CPP) spread over in 13 districts of Karnataka. The same were subjected for their chemical analysis to determine the soil reaction, salinity and nutrient status viz. pH, EC, OC, available nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), potassium (K), sulphur (S) and boron (B), respectively. The perusal of the results indicated that out of the soils received recorded 52% soils were loamy, 28% red, 12% black and 8% was lateritic type of soils. Indicating that, maximum soils are mulberry friendly. In regard to the soil fertility status large no of soils (61%) were in desirable pH (6.5-7.5), 21% with higher pH (>7.5) whereas 18% are low pH (<6.5). All the cluster soils (99%) showed with ideal soluble salts (EC: <1.0 dS/m) indicating that the cluster area soils were normal with respect to soil salinity. Organic carbon (OC) was low in 74% soils (<0.65%) whereas the same medium in 24% (0.65-1.0%) and only 2% soils recorded higher OC content (>1.0%). Available N and B was low (<250kg/ha & <0.5ppm) in 76% and 56%, and medium (250-500; 0.5-1.0) in 23% & 31% soils, respectively. Very few number of soils recorded higher level of N & B (>500kg/ha & >1.0ppm) in 1% & 13% soils. Higher amounts of P, K & S (>25kg/ha, >240kg/ha & >15ppm) was recorded in 36%, 42% & 51% soils respectively and the same P was recorded low (<250kg/ha) in 34% soils whereas K & S was medium level (120-240kg/ha; 10-15ppm) in 40% and 34% soils, respectively. Desired level of P in 30% and low level of K and S was noticed in 18% and 15% soils, respectively.
