Performance of Double Hybrid of Silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) Fed on Leaf Raised under Different Fertilizer Schedules

Aim: The present study was aimed to see the performance of silk worm (Bombyx mori L.) double hybrid fed on leaf raised through splitting the recommended dose of chemical fertilizers.

Study Design: Completely Randomized Design (CRD).

Place and Duration of Study: College of Temperate Sericulture (CoTS) Mirgund, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-K), during 2017 and 2018.

Methodology: The present investigation was carried out at the experimental farm of College of Temperate Sericulture-Mirgund. Goshoerami a popular variety of mulberry in the region was used for the study. Disease free layings (dfl’s) of the popular double hybrid were obtained from the Germplasm Bank maintained at College of Temperate Sericulture (CoTS) Mirgund. These dfl’s were incubated, brushed and reared up to 3rd instar en masse following the standard rearing procedure. After 3rd moult, 3 replications of 100 larvae in each treatment were maintained. Different larval and Cocoon parameters were recorded during the course of experimentation. Standard procedure was followed to record observations. The data was compiled and analyzed.

Results: T11 recorded the shortest values for total larval and fifth instar larval duration being statistically at par with treatments/ fertilizer schedules T12, T9, T10, T3, T4, T1, T2 and T7. Weight of ten mature larvae was recorded higher in treatment T14 being statistically at par with treatments T13, T16 and T15 respectively. Cocoon yield per 10,000 larvae by number was recorded highest In T14 treatment, which was recorded statistically at par with treatments T13 and T16 respectively. Cocoon yield by weight was more in treatment T14 being at par with treatments T13 and T16. Pupation rate was found higher in treatment T14 being at par treatment T13.

Conclusion: Double hybrid performed better under parameters like- total as well as fifth instar larval duration in case of fertilizer schedule - T11 (N3P2K1), while as in case of larval weight, cocoon yield by number and by weight and pupation rate, the hybrid performed better under T14 (N4P1K2) fertilizer Schedule.