Foliar fertilization of NPK as a stimulator to boost silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) productivity and cocoon quality

Document Type : Original Article

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Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture, South Valley University

Abstract

This study aimed to investigated the optimal nutrient combination of NPK foliar application on mulberry trees on the silkworm performance. Two silkworm hybrids were fed mulberry leaves from trees with NPK fertilizers at two different ratios (19:19:19 and 20:20:20). The local silkworm hybrid showed a significant increase in final larval weight (2.97 ± 0.14 g) when it fed leaves from trees treated with NPK (19:19:19) compared to the control (2.37 ± 0.18 g). Applying NPK fertilizers also led to a highly significant (p≤ 0.01) increased in the total haemolymph solids (T.H.S.) in the larval heamolymph of the imported hybrid. Furthermore, cocoon characteristics significantly improved in both silkworm hybrids with NPK fertilization. The local hybrid exhibited the highest cocoon weight (1.19 ± 0.05 g) with NPK ration of 20:20:20, a 36.62% increase compared to the control (0.87 ± 0.05 g). The imported hybrid also showed similar improvements in cocoon weight with NPK ratio 20:20:20. While the shell percentage, silk conversion index (SCI %) and Renditta showed positive trends, particularly with NPK (20:20:20) in both hybrids. It could be concluded that applying NPK fertilizer directly to mulberry leaves significantly enhanced silkworm growth, cocoon quality, and the efficiency of silk production in both hybrids, with a more response from the local hybrid. While NPK at ratio of 19:19:19 resulted in a greater increase in larval growth, while NPK at ration of 20:20:20 generally yielded better outcomes in terms of improving cocoon quality and economic parameters.

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SVU-International Journal of Agricultural Sciences
Volume 7, Issue 3
September 2025
Pages 10-21

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