Effect of black solider fly (BSF) Frass as organic Input on the growth of mulberry and bio-assay studies on silkworm, Bombyx mori L.

The study investigated the effect of Black Soldier Fly (BSF) frass, as an organic input on mulberry plant growth and cocoon traits of the silkworm, Bombyx mori L. BSF frass, a byproduct of poultry waste and is a nutrient-rich material with potential applications in agriculture and animal feed. In the present study, BSF frass, produced from poultry waste, was evaluated in three treatments viz., compost alone (T₁), compost with growth-promoting bacteria (T₂) and compost with both growth-promoting bacteria and plant growth promoters (T₃). A control without application of compost was also included. The results demonstrated that, T₃ (combination of compost, bacteria, and growth promoters) showed the most significant improvements in plant height, number of shoots per plant, number of leaves per plant and leaf area. Bioassay studies using silkworms reared on mulberry leaves from the treated plants revealed that, T₃ plants exhibited superior performance in higher cocoon yield, cocoon weight, cocoon shell weight and shell percentage compared to other treatments. Observations from the study suggest that an ideal dose of 50 g per plant of BSF frass mixed with beneficial bacteria and plant growth promoters, applied after pruning and irrigation, can enhance mulberry growth and silkworm productivity. BSF frass can be applied in 4 to 5 split doses per year, aligning with the pruning schedule of mulberry plants. These findings highlight the potential of BSF frass as a sustainable and effective organic input for enhancing mulberry growth and silkworm productivity in sericulture.