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

Hassan, Safaa I.A.

doi:10.21608/svuijas.2025.371531.1456

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

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Safaa I.A. Hassan

Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture, South Valley University

10.21608/svuijas.2025.371531.1456

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the optimal nutrient ratio of NPK foliar application on mulberry trees for improved the silkworm performance. Local and Bulgarian 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 positive increased (p≤ 0.01) in the total haemolymph solids (T.H.S.) in the larval heamolymph of the Bulgarian hybrid. Furthermore, cocoon characteristics were improved in both silkworm hybrids with NPK fertilization. The Bulgarian hybrid exhibited the highest cocoon weight (1.21 ± 0.05 g) with NPK ratio of 20:20:20, a 30.11% increase compared to the control (0.93 ± 0.04 g). 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 positively enhanced silkworm growth, cocoon quality, and the efficiency of silk production in both hybrids, with a more response from the local hybrid. While NPK foliar application on mulberry trees at ratio of 19:19:19 resulted in a greater increase in larval growth, NPK at ratio of 20:20:20 generally yielded better outcomes in terms of improving cocoon quality and economic parameters.

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