4th International Conference on Agriculture - 2015

ECONOMICS OF CASTOR SEED AND ERI COCOON PRODUCTION WITH SELECTED CASTOR GENOTYPES

University of Agricultural Sciences Bengaluru, India.

Dr. S. CHANDRASHEKHARProfessor of Sericulture

INTRODUCTION

India is the only country that produces all the commercially exploited silks viz., Mulberry, Eri, Tasar and Muga.

Among the non-mulberry silkworms, tasar and muga feed chiefly on the leaves of forest trees.

Attempts to increase silk production by non-mulberry silkworms have been confronted with certain limitations.

RAW SILK PRODUCTION IN INDIA

Type of Silk MT %

Mulberry 21,272 MT

74.73%

Eri 4,633 MT 16.27%

Tasar 2,404 MT 8.44 %

Muga 158 MT 0.55%

Total 28,467 100

The eri silkworm (Samia cynthia ricini Boisduval), also known as

‘Ahimsa Silkworm’, can be exploited for the silk of commerce with

considerable ease.

The eri silkworm is the only vanya silkworm species domesticated

completely and adopted to indoor rearing all through the year,

accounting for in excess of 75% of vanya silk production.

Coupled with domestication, its affinity for feeding castor (Ricinus

communis L.), which is cultivated in large areas in the country

exclusively for oil seed production, has rendered eri silkworm rearing

convenient.

Recinus communis L. (Castor), a minor oilseed crop can be linked with ericulture to maximize the returns if right choice of castor genotype is made. Castor genotype is made for dual purpose of ericulture and seed production. Ericulture has got tremendous scope in castor growing areas without affecting seed production. It is important from the point of view income generating and employment. Castor can be exploited both for castor seed and leaf production which in turn helps in eri cocoon production.

EGG

LARVA

PUPA

COCOON

ADULT

Life cycle of Eri silkworm

OBJECTIVES

To record the castor seed and eri cocoon production in different castor genotypes. To workout the economics of castor and eri cocoon production.

1.

Castor genotypes

Eight elite castor hybrids / varieties

2.

Cultivation practices

Recommended package

3.

Observations Leaf yield & Seed yield

4.

Statistical design

Randomized Complete Block Design

5.

Eri silkworm breed

White - plain

6.

Rearing practices

Recommended package

7.

Observations Cocoon shell yield

8.

Statistical design

Complete Randomized Design

METHODOLOGY

DCS-9

48-1

Kranti

DCH-177

GCH-4

DCS-32

DCS-85

Local Green

CULTIVATION OF CASTOR Eight genotypes of castor seeds were sown at a spacing of 0.9 m x 0.45 m with plot size of 5.0 x 4.0 m and the crop was raised as per the recommended package of practices under irrigated condition with three replications.

OBSERVATIONS RECORDEDLEAF YIELD

Leaves were harvested @ 50% defoliation.Leaf yield was recorded at 90 days after sowing.Leaf yield/plot was calculated using the formula. Leaf yield (kg/plot) = Total number of plants X Average leaf yield/ plant (kg)

SEED YIELD

Seed yield/ha was calculated by using the formula: Yield/net plot (kg)Yield/ha (kg) = -----------------------------x 10,000 Area of net plot (m2)

The cost of castor seed and eri cocoon production among the eight selected castor genotypes and returns were worked out by taking the current prices of inputs and outputs.

1. DCS-9 2. 48-1 3. Kranti 4. DCH-177

5. GCH-4 6. DCH-32

7. DCS-85

8. Local 1

1.2

1.4

1.6

1.8

2

2.2

1.8291.88

1.796 1.804

1.6631.701

2.049

1.511

Leaf yield (kg/5 Plants)

Castor genotype

Kg

/ 5

pla

nts

F-test *S. Em ± 0.044C. D. at 5%

0.134

1. DCS-9 2. 48-1 3. Kranti 4. DCH-177

5. GCH-4 6. DCH-32

7. DCS-85

8. Local 6000

6500

7000

7500

8000

8500

9000

9500

10000

10500

8780

9026

8619 8658

79838163

9837

7252

Leaf yield (kg/ha)

Castor genotype

kg.

/ha

F-test *S. Em ± 44.06C. D. at 5%

133.7

1. DCS-9 2. 48-1 3. Kranti 4. DCH-177

5. GCH-4 6. DCH-32

7. DCS-85

8. Local 0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

0.4

0.45

0.243

0.275

0.23 0.233 0.2320.247

0.393

0.213

Seed yield (kg/5 Plants)

Castor genotype

kg/5

pla

nts

F-test *S. Em ± 0.003C. D. at 5%

0.010

1. DCS-9 2. 48-1 3. Kranti 4. DCH-177

5. GCH-4 6. DCH-32

7. DCS-85

8. Local 600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

2000

1167

1322

1105 1119 11141187

1885

1023

Seed yield (kg/ha)

Castor genotype

kg./h

aF-test *S. Em ± 51.94C. D. at 5%

157.6

1. DCS-9 2. 48-1 3. Kranti 4. DCH-177

5. GCH-4 6. DCH-32

7. DCS-85

8. Local 5

5.5

6

6.5

7

7.5

8

8.5

9

9.5

7.3387.222

8.028.284

6.6516.915

9.2379.07

Cocoon shell yield (kg/100 layings)

Castor genotype

kg.

/100

layi

ngs

F-test *S. Em ± 0.069C. D. at 5%

0.207

1. DCS-9 2. 48-1 3. Kranti 4. DCH-177

5. GCH-4 6. DCH-32

7. DCS-85

8. Local 12400

12600

12800

13000

13200

13400

13600

13800

14000

14200

1361013710

13540 13560

1327513350

14050

12970

Total Cost of Production (Rs.)

Castor genotype

Rs.

F-test *S. Em ± 134.5C. D. at 5%

212.9

1. DCS-9 2. 48-1 3. Kranti 4. DCH-177

5. GCH-4

6. DCH-32

7. DCS-85

8. Local 10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

19340

21636

18580 18856 1837319594

30584

17613

Gross Returns (Rs.)

Castor genotype

Rs.

F-test *S. Em ± 534.8C. D. at 5%

847.1

1. DCS-9 2. 48-1 3. Kranti 4. DCH-177

5. GCH-4 6. DCH-32

7. DCS-85

8. Local 0

2000

4000

6000

8000

10000

12000

14000

16000

18000

5730

7926

5040 5296 5098

6244

16534

4643

Net Profit

Castor genotype

Rs.

F-test *S. Em ± 0.020C. D. at 5%

0.031

SUMMARY

The study revealed that, high gross returns were realized by rearing eri silkworms on leaves of DCS-85 (Rs.30,584/ha). The genotypes 48-1 (Rs.21,636), DCH-32 (Rs.19,594) and DCS-9 (Rs.19,340) were found next best and the least with Local genotype (Rs.17,613). Profit was more with DCS-85 (Rs.16,534/ ha), However, it was less with Local genotype (Rs.4,643). Significant variation in B:C ratio was observed among selected castor genotypes when they were used for both castor seed and eri cocoon production. B:C ratio was more with DCS-85 (1.777:1) followed by that in respect of 48-1 (0.578:1), DCH-32 (0.468:1), DCS-9 (0.421:1), DCH-177 (0.391:1) and Kranti (0.372:1). However, B:C ratio was least with Local genotype (0.358:1).

CONCLUSION

It is inferred that castor genotype DCS-85 can be raised

under rainfed condition for seed production and ericulture

(@ 50% defoliation) to earn more gross return (Rs. 30,584 /

ha), net profit (Rs. 16,534 / ha) and B:C ratio (1.777:1).

DCS-85 genotype could be used with cost effectiveness for

dual purpose of castor seed and eri cocoon production

under rainfed situation.