Effect of Bio-inoculants Applied to M&lt;sub&gt;5&lt;/sub&gt; Mulberry Under Rain-fed Condition on Growth and Cocoon Traits Performance of Silkworm, &lt;em&gt;Bombyxmori&lt;/em&gt; L.

S Waktole,Rn Bhaskar

doi:10.4314/mejs.v4i2.80114

Abstract

Nutrition plays a pivotal role in sericulture. It improves the growth, development, health, feed consumption and conversion of silkworm thereby improving the commercial traits. Silkworm, Bombyx Mori L., is a monophagous insect that drives almost all required nutrients for its growth and development from mulberry leaf. Application of the required nutrient in the required amount to mulberry plant is, therefore, very essential for the successful silkworm growth and cocoon production. The present investigation was carried out at the department of sericulture, GKVK, UAS, Bangalore, India in 2007 with an objective to determine the effect of three bio-inoculants application to M 5 mulberry plant on silkworm (PM x CSR 2 ) growth, development and coocoon traits. The feeding experiment was laid-out in Completely Randomized Design (CRD)with eight treatments replicated three times. The result revealed that the larval growth variables and cocoon traits were significantly better when developing worms were fed on mulberry leaves raised by applying the recommended doses of nutrients. However, the recommended rate of chemical fertilizers application was found either the same or on par with 25 per cent reduced Nitrogen and Phospherous (NP) application when supplemented with bio-inoculants ( Azotobactersp., Aspergillus awamori and Trichodermaharzianum ). This indicate that 25 per cent reduction of NP application does not adversely affect larval growth and cocoon traits when supplemented with the above three microbes. Keywords : Bio-inoculants, Cocoon traits, Growth variables, M 5 mulberry, Rain-fed

Highlights

IntroductionMorus alba L., is a sole food plant for silkworm, Bombyx mori L
Mulberry, Morus alba L., is a sole food plant for silkworm, Bombyx mori L
The study revealed that application of bio-inoculants, Farm Yard Manure (FYM) and inorganic fertilizers in combination, to the soil and in turn feeding of mulberry leaves produced from such garden to silkworms (PM x CSR2), exhibited significantly different results on growth (moulting and larval duration, feeding period, larval weight and Effective Rate of Rearing (ERR)) and other cocoon traits (α = 5%)

Summary

Introduction

Morus alba L., is a sole food plant for silkworm, Bombyx mori L. Good quality leaf production in mulberry is highly dependent on supply of various inputs especially nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers (Nasreen et al, 1999). Singhal et al (1999) opined that quality of mulberry leaf fed to silkworms is the most important factor that influences successful cocoon production by mulberry silkworm. Use of inorganic fertilizers has increased mulberry yield leading to better silkworm productivity (Bose and Majumder, 1999). Some portions of the nutrients applied to the soil are still bound to be unused as they are not available to the plant. This increased the cost of mulberry leaf production. With the application of inorganic fertilizers alone, Momona Ethiopian Journal of Science (MEJS), V4(2):29-39, 2012, ©CNCS, Mekelle University, ISSN:2220-184X

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Conclusion