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<p>This study evaluated the potential of mulberry silkworm (<i>Bombyx mori</i> L.) frass and mulberry leaf litter as organic nitrogen sources, applied individually and in combination with chemical fertilizers, on soil fertility, plant growth, reproductive traits, and yield of tomato (<i>Solanum lycopersicum</i> L.). A polyhouse experiment was conducted from November 2024–August 2025 at Kumaraguru Institute of Agriculture, Tamil Nadu, using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with nine treatments with five replications. The treatments consisted of different proportions of chemical nitrogen fertilizer, silkworm frass, and mulberry leaf litter based on the recommended NPK dose for hybrid tomato cultivation. The results indicated that mulberry leaf litter contained higher nitrogen content (0.815% fresh and 0.70% dry basis) compared to silkworm frass (0.30% in early instar and 0.35% in late instar). Among the treatments, T6 (75% chemical fertilizer + 25% leaf litter) significantly improved vegetative growth, recording the maximum plant height (146.50&#xa0;cm), highest number of leaflets (282.96), and maximum number of branches (5.5) at 60&#xa0;days after transplanting. The same treatment also produced the highest number of flower clusters (15.3&#xa0;Nos.), fruit clusters (3.5&#xa0;Nos.), fruits per plant (51.40&#xa0;Nos.), and total yield (2.91&#xa0;kg per plant). In contrast, T3 (75% chemical fertilizer + 25% silkworm frass) produced the highest individual fruit weight (63.7g) and largest fruit diameter (8.8&#xa0;cm). Correlation analysis showed that most vegetative and reproductive parameters were positively associated with tomato yield. Plant height, number of leaves, branches, flower clusters, fruits per cluster, and fruits per plant exhibited positive correlations with yield, indicating that enhanced vegetative growth and reproductive development contributed to higher productivity. The findings suggest that the integration of mulberry leaf litter and silkworm frass with chemical fertilizers can improve tomato yield, enhance soil fertility, and reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers, thereby promoting sustainable nutrient management in tomato cultivation.</p> Graphical abstract <p></p>

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Valorizing of mulberry silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) frass as a nitrogen fertilizer on growth and economic attributes of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年3月30日

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  • K. Elango,
  • V. Dhinesh,
  • V. Divyabharathi,
  • S. Abinandhan,
  • K. S. Chenduran,
  • C. Dineshkumar,
  • V. C. Geetha

摘要

This study evaluated the potential of mulberry silkworm (Bombyx mori L.) frass and mulberry leaf litter as organic nitrogen sources, applied individually and in combination with chemical fertilizers, on soil fertility, plant growth, reproductive traits, and yield of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.). A polyhouse experiment was conducted from November 2024–August 2025 at Kumaraguru Institute of Agriculture, Tamil Nadu, using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with nine treatments with five replications. The treatments consisted of different proportions of chemical nitrogen fertilizer, silkworm frass, and mulberry leaf litter based on the recommended NPK dose for hybrid tomato cultivation. The results indicated that mulberry leaf litter contained higher nitrogen content (0.815% fresh and 0.70% dry basis) compared to silkworm frass (0.30% in early instar and 0.35% in late instar). Among the treatments, T6 (75% chemical fertilizer + 25% leaf litter) significantly improved vegetative growth, recording the maximum plant height (146.50 cm), highest number of leaflets (282.96), and maximum number of branches (5.5) at 60 days after transplanting. The same treatment also produced the highest number of flower clusters (15.3 Nos.), fruit clusters (3.5 Nos.), fruits per plant (51.40 Nos.), and total yield (2.91 kg per plant). In contrast, T3 (75% chemical fertilizer + 25% silkworm frass) produced the highest individual fruit weight (63.7g) and largest fruit diameter (8.8 cm). Correlation analysis showed that most vegetative and reproductive parameters were positively associated with tomato yield. Plant height, number of leaves, branches, flower clusters, fruits per cluster, and fruits per plant exhibited positive correlations with yield, indicating that enhanced vegetative growth and reproductive development contributed to higher productivity. The findings suggest that the integration of mulberry leaf litter and silkworm frass with chemical fertilizers can improve tomato yield, enhance soil fertility, and reduce reliance on synthetic fertilizers, thereby promoting sustainable nutrient management in tomato cultivation.

Graphical abstract