Cocoon yield and quality of silkworm fed with leaves harvested from mulberry grown under conventional, LEISA, and organic agro-ecosystem manipulations
Abstract
Agronomic and physiological characteristics of mulberry plants, their effects on silkworm growth, cocoon yield and quality, and other productivity and profitability measures were used as parameters to select better combinations of practices in mulberry growing in Northern Luzon, the Philippines. Growth and yield of mulberry and silkworms were significantly different in the six agro-ecosystem manipulations, seasons of harvesting leaves, and rearing silkworms. Compared to other setups, total cocoon yields/ha were higher in LEISA I, Conventional II, Conventional I, LEISA II, and Organic Farming I based on higher effective rearing rates of silkworms, weight of mature larvae, single cocoon weights, and cocoon yield per box. Quality of cocoons, cocoon shell percentage, and reelability of cocoons also improved. Combined net incomes, return on investment, return above variable costs, labor and material costs (average of two years) were highest in LEISA I, Conventional II, LEISA II, and Conventional I. These agro-ecosystem manipulations can reduce the dependence of the silkworm grower on commercial fertilizers while increasing soil fertility.
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