Effect of Mulberry Leaves as Influenced by Hydrogel and Graded Levels of Fertigation on Performance of Silkworm Hybrid

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of hydrogel and graded levels of fertigation onlarval, cocoon and silk filament characteristics of the bivoltine silkworm hybrid FC₂ × FC₁. Mulberry(V-1) leaves produced under eight fertigation–hydrogel treatment combinations were used for silkwormrearing. The results revealed that silkworms fed on leaves obtained from 75 per cent recommended doseof nitrogen and potassium through fertigation combined with starch-based hydrogel @ 6 kg ac⁻¹exhibited significantly superior larval performance, cocoon yield and silk filament quality compared toconventional practices. This treatment also recorded shorter fifth instar duration, maximum grownuplarval weight, lower larval mortality, improved cocoon yield by number and weight and enhanced silkfilament characteristics. Higher fertigation levels improved mulberry growth, but did not proportionatelyenhance silkworm performance, indicating an inverse relationship between excess nutrient accumulationin mulberry leaves and silkworm productivity. The study demonstrates that fertigation at 75 per centrecommended dose of nitrogen and potassium integrated with hydrogel is the most efficient andsustainable practice by saving 25 per cent of nitrogen and potassium fertilizer input withoutcompromising cocoon yield.