Optimal Date of Mulberry Pruning and Silkworm Rearing for Improvement of Quality and Yield Potential of Mulberry Foliage and Silk Cocoons in Lower-Gangetic Region

Abstract

Mulberry sericulture is an alternative farm-based livelihood activity and is practiced in various climatic conditions. A field and rearing experiment was conducted to evaluate the mulberry variety S-1635 for leaf and silk cocoon productivity under alternative pruning and rearing schedule during autumn 2019 and spring 2020 seasons. The leaf moisture content, leaf fall at harvest, primary shoots plant -1 , longest shoot length, total shoots length and leaf yield plant -1 was significantly higher in new pruning schedule in both the season. The new mulberry crop schedule recorded higher leaf productivity to a tune of 12% in autumn and double in comparison to existing schedule practiced by farmers. The role of optimal weather and period of crop growth had a greater impact on leaf yield during autumn and spring crops, respectively. Most of the reeling cocoon and silk parameters obtained from fed leaves differed significantly with pruning schedules in both the seasons. Effective rate of rearing and weight was significantly higher in new pruning schedule while single cocoon weight was higher in existing schedule. The new silkworm rearing schedule recorded 10-12% higher cocoon yield in both Agrahayani (75.67 kg) and Falguni (62.08 kg) crops compared to existing crop schedule. The investigation revealed that delaying the mulberry pruning and silkworm rearing date by two weeks effectively increased both leaf and cocoon output. The new mulberry sericulture crop schedules will be a climate change adaptation strategy to maintain production potential in the lower-gangetic region.