Harvested leaves are stored in small loose heaps in cool room and protected from heating, fermentation, or drying out. Bushes may be productive for as many as 15 years, after which old plants are pulled out, the land planted to a green manure crop and then replanted to mulberry bushes. Yields and Economics Yield of mulberry leaves varies according to the soil, moisture supply, manuring, and cultural practices. Yields of leaves from tree mulberries are not available. Different trees vary greatly in fruit production.
Sericulture is the most important commercial use for white mulberry.
Young, fully developed leaves are best for feeding silkworm larvae. Those of us who have seen solid coats on the ground of white fruits of the white mulberry or red to purple fruits of other species, realize that there is a lot of sugar there that could be converted to alcohol. It is concluded that Populus species and Morus show great potential for ethanol production. Most of the stems and branches produced by mulberry trees so far are utilized for heating or cooking and as a supporting material for horticultural crops. Recently, preliminary studies on yields of ethanol from mulberry trees show promising possibilities.