Effect of Various Concentration of Indole‐3‐butyric Acid (IBA) and Soilless Rooting Substance Combinations on Nutrient Status of Leaves, Rooting, and Shoot Parameters of Mulberry ( <i>Morus alba</i> L.) <i>Cv</i> . Thar Harit Cuttings

This study evaluated the effects of different concentrations of indole‐3‐butyric acid (IBA) and suitable rooting substrate on the rooting success and nutrient status of mulberry ( Morus alba L.) cv . Thar Harit cuttings. Cuttings treated with 2000 ppm IBA and planted in a cocopeat: perlite: vermicompost (2:1:1) mix, showed significantly improved root development, nutrient uptake and shoot biomass compared to control. At 60 days after planting, these treatments achieved the highest NPK levels, chlorophyll content, root volume and shoot growth. These results suggest that the integration of IBA with optimized suitable media can significantly enhance propagation outcomes in mulberry. The treatment comprising cocopeat + perlite + vermicompost (2:1:1) consistently outperformed others in terms of chlorophyll content (22.62%), number of primary roots (78.36%), shoot fresh weight (114.25%), root diameter (226.82%) and root volume (202.63%) as compared to the cuttings planted in sandy soil. Moreover, applying 2000 ppm IBA further optimized nutrient uptake, chlorophyll levels, shoot biomass, and root system development. Together, the cocopeat–perlite–vermicompost mix with 2000 ppm IBA emerges as an economical yet highly effective method for producing premium‐quality mulberry planting material supporting superior vegetative growth through enhanced aeration, moisture retention, nutrient availability, and root proliferation. Similar substrate blends have also shown strong performance in accelerating photosynthesis, biomass accumulation, and rooting strength.