Effect of soil application of zinc, iron and manganese on V1 mulberry and total performance of cross breed PM × CSR2 (Bombyx mori L.)

Abstract

A field experiment was conducted to study the effect of soil application of zinc, iron and manganese on mulberry at Department of Sericulture, UAS, GKVK, Bengaluru-65 during 2018-19. Among the different treatments, T5 (350:140:140 NPK kg/ha/year + FYM 20 t/ha/year + micronutrient formulation of Zn, Fe and Mn @ 6 kg/acre) recorded significantly higher number of leaves/plant (548.67 and 567.56), leaf area (283.52 and 310.45 cm2), leaf yield (947.20 and 1040.81 g/plant) and leaf dry matter (359.05 and 552.05 g/plant) on 45th and 75th DAP in V1 mulberry. Significantly higher larval weight (37.59 g/10), shorter fifth instar and total larval duration (198.32 and 510.32 h), ERR (98.83%), single cocoon weight (1.78 g), single pupal weight (1.39 g), single shell weight (0.39 g) and shell ratio (21.69%) were significantly higher in T5 treatment with PM × CSR2. Compared to other treatments all the above-mentioned parameters found least in the control.