Soil and mulberry leaf quality affect silk worm cocoon production in Mizoram

Soil and leaf quality affect the production of cocoon in mulberry silk worm Bombyx mori L., and therefore, two popular varieties of silk worms were fed with leaves collected from two sites viz., Rangvamual (RVL) and Durtlang (DTL). Soil quality (i.e. C, N, C/N ratio, available P, pH, moisture and microbial biomass carbon) and leaf quality (i.e. crude fibre, CF; crude protein, CP; ether extract, EE; moisture content, MC) parameters were analysed. Soil nutrient concentrations were significantly higher in DTL site compared to RVL site. Consequently, proximity analysis showed significantly higher concentration of MC (69.06%) and CP (15.83%) in the leaves of DTL site than RVL site. In conclusion, soil fertility significantly increases CP in mulberry leaves which considerably affects the production of cocoon and the quality of silk.