Mulberry variety and nutrition are determining factors for plant yield and the development of silkworm cocoons. To evaluate the effects of organic matter (2 kg of chicken manure/plant) and organic matter plus gypsum (2 kg of chicken manure/plant + 250 g of gypsum) on three mulberry hybrids, IZ 64; IZ 19/13 and IZ 56/4, plant yield (leaves and branches), cocoon weight and net silk content in the cocoons were measured. Both the hybrid IZ 56/4 and the fertilization with organic matter plus gypsum resulted in higher leave and branche production in relation to other factors studied, therefore positively influencing in the weight and net silk level of the cocoons.
Morus sp.; Bombyx mori; organic fertilization; gypsum