Definition process types and importance of sericulture and moriculture
We have already discussed sericulture in detail in another article. So, in this article, we will discuss sericulture in brief with an emphasis on moriculture.
What is Sericulture?
Natural fibres are obtained from plants and animals. Cotton, jute and flax are all plant fibres. While wool and silk are animal fibres. We get silk from silk moths or ‘silkworms.’ The rearing of silkworms for obtaining silk is called ‘sericulture’. Thus, the meaning of sericulture or silk farming is the cultivation of silkworms or silk moths to produce silk. Sericulture is a very old occupation in India. India is the 2nd largest producer of silk in the world after China and Karnataka is the largest producer of silk in India.
We get silk fibre from silk-worm cocoons. Rearing silkworms for their silk cocoon to get silk fibre is very ancient. According to one legend, the story of silk began in 2640 BC. Si-Ling-Chi, a Chinese Empress, was walking around her garden while sipping a cup of tea when the cocoon of a silkworm fell into her cup. The cocoon soon began to unravel revealing a long silken fibre. When she looked up, she saw a Mulberry plant with several other cocoons hanging from it and many silkworms crawling around. This led her to conclude that the cocoon had come from the silkworm caterpillars.
For 2500 years, the Chinese kept the art of making silk to themselves. They sold silk fabric but refused to reveal the secret of how the fabric was made. Despite their secrecy, the knowledge of how to make silk reached Korea and India in 200 BC and 140 BC respectively.
Mulberry plants and mulberry leaves play an important role in sericulture. As female silkworms lay eggs on the leaf of mulberry plants and feed on the leaves as well. High yielding mulberry plants are chosen for mariculture. Proper maintenance and preservation of mulberry plants are required for good yield.
What is Moriculture?
Sericulture is dependent on moriculture. The cultivation of mulberry plants to obtain feed for silkworms and to obtain silk is called moriculture.
The first time mulberry plant cultivation was carried out was in 2800 BC by the chin–nong. The raw silk industry is based on moriculture and sericulture. To increase silk production and cocoon production moriculture is an important process. Moriculture techniques have been improved with time to reduce production costs in sericulture.
Approximately 4,00,000 hectares of farmland is used for the cultivation of mulberry plants. Each hectare of the land yields approximately 12000 – 15000 kg of mulberry leaves. Presently, the production of mulberry leaves has been increased due to advanced techniques of cultivation of mulberry plants. Morus alba, Morus indica, Morus latifolia, morus nigra are the main four species of mulberry plant which are found in India.
Optimum Climatic Conditions for Moriculture
Mulberry plants may thrive under a wide range of climatic conditions. 24 to 28 ℃ temperature is suitable for optimum growth of mulberry plants. Although they give average yield at 18℃ - 24℃ temperatures as well. It grows well in places that have an annual rainfall of 600 – 2500 mm. It requires 350m3/ha water every ten days. Sunshine is the controlling factor of the growth of mulberry plants. It requires 9-13 hours of sunshine per day.
Soil Conditions for Moriculture
Clayey and loamy soils are suitable for mulberry plants. Soil should be deep, fertile and porous with good water holding capacity. The ideal pH for its best growth is 6.2 – 6.8. Land preparation for mulberry plant cultivation involves deep ploughing up to a depth of 30 – 35cm.
Cultivation of Kanva – 2 of Morus indica is common in India for moriculture. Apart from Kanva – 2, S-36, S-54 etc. are also belongs to M. indica and are used for moriculture.
Spacing of Mulberry Plants
The spacing of mulberry plants depends on the soil conditions. For black and heavy soils, 90 × 90 cm spacing. While for sloppy soil of hilly areas 120 × 60 cm spacing.
Harvesting of Mulberry Leaves from the Plant
Let the mulberry plants grow up to an optimum extent. After their optimum growth, mulberry leaves can be harvested and can be used as feed for silkworms. Mulberry leaves must be harvested at the right time as fully grown mulberry leaves contain less moisture than partially grown leaves. Leaf picking and branch cutting are the methods that are used in the harvesting of mulberry leaves. Another well-known harvesting method of mulberry leaves is whole shoot harvesting.
Fertilizers used in Moriculture
It requires two doses of fertilizer in one season. Suphala fertilizer is used after two months of planting the mulberry saplings. During this time, weeding is also done. The second time weeding is done after 2 – 3 months of planting.
Preservation of Leaves
Mulberry leaves must be kept in a basket full of moisture. The basket should be lined with a clean and wet cotton cloth. It should also be covered with a wet and clean cloth. When preservation of mulberry leaves is done in bulk then preservation chambers are used. Moist and green mulberry leaves are suitable for feeding the silk moths. The leaves should be heaped loosely and periodically turned. By doing this aeration is provided to leaves for better preservation. Optimum temperature and humidity are required for the preservation of mulberry leaves.
Thus, we can conclude, moriculture is a method of cultivation of mulberry leaves to feed silk moths to produce silk. It is a subset of sericulture. It employs many people as well.
This ends our coverage on the topic “Sericulture and Moriculture”. We hope you enjoyed learning and were able to grasp the concepts. We hope after reading this article you will be able to solve problems based on the topic. If you are looking for solutions to NCERT Textbook problems based on this topic, then log on to the Vedantu website or download Vedantu Learning App. By doing so, you will be able to access free PDFs of NCERT Solutions as well as Revision notes, Mock Tests and much more.
Fertilizers and Preservations Used
Fertilizers are applied on the ground/ soil or directly on the tree every 7-10 days to ensure optimal growth and development of the mulberry tree.
Pruning of Mulberry trees is important to keep them from growing into a bush, this is not needed or is less required in case it is grown in pots. Covering of Mulberry fruits is needed because birds love to feed on its fruits.
The mulberry leaves should be kept in a basket full of water. The basket should be lined with a clean, wet cotton cloth. It should also be covered with a damp, clean cloth. If you want to store a large number of mulberry leaves, use a storage room. Moist green mulberry leaves are suitable for feeding silk moths.
FAQs on Sericulture and Moriculture in Silk Production
1. What is sericulture?
Sericulture is the rearing of silkworms for the production of silk. It mainly involves cultivating silkworms such as Bombyx mori and extracting silk from their cocoons.
- It includes egg production, larval rearing, cocoon harvesting, and silk reeling.
- Mulberry leaves are the primary food source for silkworms.
- Sericulture is an important agro-based rural industry in many countries.
2. What is moriculture?
Moriculture is the cultivation of mulberry plants for feeding silkworms in sericulture. It ensures a continuous supply of high-quality leaves essential for silk production.
- Mulberry leaves are the exclusive food of Bombyx mori.
- It includes nursery raising, planting, irrigation, pruning, and pest management.
- Healthy mulberry cultivation directly affects silk yield and quality.
3. What are the main stages of the silkworm life cycle?
The silkworm life cycle consists of four main stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult moth. This complete metamorphosis is essential for silk formation.
- Egg: Laid by adult moth and hatches in about 10 days.
- Larva (caterpillar): Feeds on mulberry leaves and grows rapidly.
- Pupa: Develops inside the cocoon.
- Adult moth: Emerges, mates, and lays eggs.
4. How is silk obtained from silkworms?
Silk is obtained by reeling the silk filament from the cocoon of the silkworm. The filament is produced by the larva during cocoon formation.
- Cocoons are collected after the larval stage.
- They are boiled or steamed to kill the pupa and soften the silk.
- The long continuous silk thread is unwound and reeled.
5. What are the types of silk produced in sericulture?
The main types of silk are Mulberry, Tussar, Eri, and Muga silk. These differ based on the silkworm species and host plants.
- Mulberry silk: Produced by Bombyx mori; most common and finest.
- Tussar silk: Produced by wild silkworms; coarse texture.
- Eri silk: Soft and wool-like.
- Muga silk: Golden-yellow silk mainly from Assam.
6. Why are mulberry leaves important in sericulture?
Mulberry leaves are important because they are the primary and exclusive food source for Bombyx mori silkworms. Their nutritional quality directly influences silk yield.
- Rich in proteins, carbohydrates, and moisture.
- Good leaf quality improves cocoon weight and filament length.
- Poor-quality leaves reduce silk production.
7. What are the steps involved in sericulture?
Sericulture involves a sequence of steps from egg production to silk reeling. These steps ensure systematic silk production.
- Egg production (grainage)
- Silkworm rearing
- Cocoon harvesting
- Reeling and spinning
8. What is the difference between sericulture and moriculture?
The main difference is that sericulture deals with rearing silkworms, while moriculture focuses on growing mulberry plants. Both are interdependent in silk production.
- Sericulture: Concerned with silkworm breeding and silk extraction.
- Moriculture: Concerned with mulberry cultivation practices.
- Moriculture supports sericulture by providing quality leaves.
9. What factors affect silk production in sericulture?
Silk production is affected by factors such as temperature, humidity, mulberry leaf quality, and disease control. Proper environmental management ensures higher yield.
- Ideal temperature: 20–28°C for silkworm growth.
- High-quality mulberry leaves increase cocoon weight.
- Diseases like pebrine can reduce productivity.
10. What is the economic importance of sericulture?
Sericulture is economically important because it provides employment, rural income, and export revenue. It is a labor-intensive and eco-friendly industry.
- Supports small and marginal farmers.
- Encourages women’s participation in rural areas.
- Contributes significantly to the textile industry.
