Journal of Environment and Sociobiology

Kunal Sarkar ¹, Susanta Kumar Chattopadhyay ¹, Gopinath Baur ¹, Sanat Kumar Ray ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Sericulture, Krishnath College, Berhampore, Murshidabad, West Bengal 742101, IN

Abstract

The effect of earlier and delayed mounting of matured larvae on the commercial characteristics of Bombyx mori L. was investigated in the present experiment. There are no significant differences in yield, cocoon and reeling characters between the control (larvae mounted after ideal maturation) and larvae mounted 24 hours after maturation. The present study indicates that larvae mounted 24 hours before maturation give significantly inferior results in terms of yield, cocoon and reeling characters as compared to other characters. The study also indicates that late mounting of larva does not affect quality of cocoon but early mounting of larvae may seriously affect the quality of cocoon. The main reason behind this is that early mounting of silkworm larvae does not allow to create superfluous amino acids in the body and hence it does not excrete from the body. It ultimately affects the process of cocooning. Hence hurry in mounting is not desirable before ideal maturation of larvae, even if labour or time is not available. Rather farmers may wait for a day after ideal time of maturation.

Keywords

Bombyx mori, Maturation, Mounting, Cocoon.

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Kunal Sarkar ¹, Susanta Kumar Chattopadhyay ¹, Gopinath Baur ¹, Sanat Kumar Ray ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Sericulture, Krishnath College, Berhampore, Murshidabad, West Bengal 742101, IN

Abstract

The effect of using banana leaves and aurum leaves as seat and cover of rearing tray on the commercial characteristics of Bombyx mori L during dry summer was investigated in the present experiment. In dry summer using of banana leaves and aurum leaves as seat and cover in the rearing tray gave better result than conventional method of using paraffin paper for the same purpose. Using of these leaves as seat and cover of rearing tray increased the moisture retention capacity of mulberry leaves which ultimately ensured the better economic characters of silkworm larvae as well as cocoons. Not only in early stages but also in late stages, silkworm larvae may be reared by using banana leaf and aurum leaf as seat and cover. Besides these cost of banana leaf and aurum leaf is negligible and these are easily available at farmers level.

Keywords

Bombyx mori, Rearing Tray, Banana Leaf, Aurum Leaf, Paraffin Paper.

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Mahasankar Majumdar ¹, Kunal Sarkar ¹, Sanat Kumar Ray ¹

Affiliations
1 PG Department of Sericulture, Krishnath College, Berhampore, Murshidabad,West Bengal, IN

Abstract

Sericulture is recognized as an important agro based labour intensive cottage industry in India. In this study, we have made a comparative analysis on the income generation from sericulture as compared to traditional horticulture crops, i.e., Mango (Mangifera indica) and Litchi (Litchi chinensis). Our study clearly indicates that sericulture is capable of generating more income than other horticulture crops like Mango, Litchi, etc. Mango and Litchi fruits can be produced normally once in a year but sericulture can be practiced 4-5 times in a year. The net income from one acre mango orchard, i.e., in ON-YEAR is ₹ 46,000/ and in OFF YEAR ₹ 27,600 (40% of the ON-YEAR production). Hence the total income in two years from one acre mango orchard is ₹ 46,000 + ₹ 12,970 = ₹ 58,970/- (average income per year is ₹ 29,485) and the net income from one acre Litchi orchard, i.e., in ON-YEAR is ₹ 53,500/ and in OFF YEAR ₹ 16,500 (50% of the ON-YEAR production). The total income in two years from one acre mango orchard is ₹ 81,000 + ₹ 18,400 = ₹ 99,400/- (average income per year is ₹ 49,700) which is still less than sericulture which generate ₹ 54,700 in one acre of land for irrigated condition in one year. Sericulture provides regular employment to the farmers. In sericulture 478 man days are required per acre per year where as in horticulture only 250 - 300 man days are sufficient for one acre orchard. So, sericulture ultimately checks the migration of population from rural areas to urban areas, thereby minimizes the population and pollution in urban areas by arresting the growth of slums in urban areas. Hence, sericulture can be considered as an essential tool for the rural development and improving the standard of living of human population of village level.

Keywords

Sericulture, Mango, Litchi, Comparative Study, Murshidabad District.

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