The influence of VAM fungi and bacterial biofertilizer (BBF) with 50% reduction in the recommended dose
of (N and P) chemical fertilizers on leaf quality traits of mulberry variety (S-13) and its impact on
silkworm (PM × NB4D2) growth and cocoon characters were studied under semi-arid conditions. Four
different treatments were imposed i.e., T1: Control (only 100% NPK); T2: VAM (50% cut in P); T3: BBF
(50% cut in N) and T4: BBF and VAM (50% cut in N and P). The results revealed that reduction (50%) in
the dose of chemical fertilizers in T2, T3 and T4 did not affected the leaf quality traits or cocoon
parameters, this may be due to the effect of microbial inoculants in these treatments, which had efficiently
regulated the normal growth, metabolism and physiological activity in plants. Among the threebiofertilizer
treatments, leaf quality, silkworm growth and cocoon parameters were found improved in
T4 and was on par with T1 control. The dual inoculation (T4) proved economical and beneficial with
regard to saving of 50 % cost of chemical fertilizers and improvement in soil fertility, leaf quality and
cocoon parameters, thus this technology can be recommended to sericulture farmers of semi-arid
conditions.