EFFECT OF POPULATION DENSITY ON QUALITY COCOON PRODUCTION
Loading...
Date
2017
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu
Abstract
The present investigation entitled “Effect of population density on quality cocoon production” was carried out at Division of Sericulture, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Jammu, Udheywalla, Jammu and Kashmir. Larval population has a great impact on biology and physiology of insects including silkworm Bombyx mori L. Experiment was conducted on authorized commercial silkworm hybrid CSR2 x CSR4, comprising of seven treatments. The population density varied from 250 worms per plastic tray (6ft.) to 550 worms per tray to evaluate and recommend the optimum silkworm population number required to be reared under specific unit area commercially. Fourteen commercial characters were studied. Data generated was statistically analyzed and evaluated by cumulative Mano’s Evaluation Index (E.I.) method. Results clearly indicated that the late age larval duration of the silkworm is directly proportional to the larval density, while as larval weight depicts relatively inverse relation. The study reveals that 250 larvae/tray (6ft.) was statistically superior in terms of maximum larval weight (194.25± 2.25), higher shell weight (0.27 ± 0.00), maximum silk ratio (20.10 ± 0.07) per cent. Highest E.I value of 56.30 was obtained for 250 population size. For population size of 300, 350, 400 silkworm the E.I values recorded were, 54.16, 52.42, 51.21 respectively. The study also indicates that with the increase in larval population per square feet the economic rearing parameters get reduced in metric traits. More density affects quantitative traits than qualitative traits. From this experiment we concluded that larval population density 300 to 400 larvae/ tray (6ft.) is economically and commercially optimum.
Description
Keywords
null
Citation
No. of references 69