The effect of vermiwash and vermicompost in augmenting the growth process in a variety of
plants is amply documented. Biological role of feed supplements like semi-synthetic diets and
mulberry grown through vermicompost administration on the growth and cocoon characters
of silkwormsis also equally well known. In the present investigation, the effect of fresh and two
week old vermiwash of two epigeic earthworms Eudrilus eugeniae and Perionyx sp. on the
cocoon characters of the mulberry silkworm, multivoltine hybrid Kolar Gold race was studied.
Mulberry leaves were collected from a field where different treatments were given to the
existing three year old mulberry crop. The treatments to mulberry plants included spot
application of 1 and 2kg. Vermicompost, 30g NPK (300N: 120P: 120K) and Farm yard Manure
(1kg) respectively. One set of the plants were sprayed with vermicompost extract (1kg. fresh
vermicompost suspended in ten litres of fresh water and left for 72h. before decanting to use as
spray), one more set of plants received vermicompost brew (1kg. vermicompost was treated
with water at 1000C and slowly filtered through a fine gauze to get the brew to use as spray
to plants) and finally spraying of water to third set served as control. The leaves collected
from these treatments were used as feed to different batches of silkworms of fourth instar
immediately after the third molt. The silkworms were divided into two groups and one was fed
with the leaves collected from the plants exposed to different treatments smeared with
vermiwash [1kg. earthworms were immersed in one liter luke warm water for 30 sec. in a tray
and later transferred to another tray containing water at room temperature (26 to 280C) before
releasing them back in to bins. The fluid in both the trays were mixed and this served as
vermiwash] and the other group was fed on the leaves without smearing with vermiwash
(untreated leaves). The parameters recorded included weights of larvae, silk glands, cocoons,
shell and floss. Vermiwash- smeared mulberry leaves grown with vermicompost and sprayed
with brew showed significant influence on the cocoon characters when compared to other treatment.
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