Multiple Cocoon Crops Module and its Impact on Stabilization of Autumn Crop under Subtropical Condition of North West India

Abstract

The present study was conducted mainly to explore the possibility of multiple cocoon crops in North West India and expected that introduction of the additional crops in between spring and the autumn will force the pruning of mulberry trees before autumn crop hence, it will help in productivity improvement during the autumn crop. The field trial was conducted with 9 selected rearers sponsored by Department of Sericulture, J&K & Himachal Pradesh and laboratory rearing was conducted at RSRS. Jammu. Three crop rearing schedule was followed with an innovative approach for date of brushing, leaf harvesting, silkworm rearing & mounting of larvae. The outcome of the study leads to understanding that change in brushing dates, rearing with shortlisted silkworm hybrids and use of improved rearing & mounting techniques can improve the cocoon productivity/100 DFLs in one hand and introduction of Summer crop in between spring & autumn crop can also improve the cocoon yield during the autumn crop. Farmer’s level study revealed that an average yield recorded during spring crop of about 70.67 Kg & 60.33 Kg/100 DFLs in Jammu & HP whereas lab rearing at RSRS, Jammu recorded about 83.00 Kg/100 DFLs. During summer crop about 44.40 Kg & 35.35 Kg/100 DFLs in Jammu & HP and lab rearing at RSRS, Jammu recorded about 51.87 Kg/100 DFLs respectively. During autumn crop an average yield of about 40.80 Kg & 43.67 Kg/100 DFLs was recorded at Jammu & HP and lab rearing at RSRS, Jammu recorded about 44.75 Kg/100 DFLs. The impact of the introduction by summer crop revealed that per cent yield gain over traditional field rearing from experimental field trials about 67.14 (%) and 44.70 (%) yield gain records in the autumn season at Jammu division and Himachal Pradesh respectively.