COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF CASTOR CULTIVATION IN WASTEWATER-FED WETLANDS VERSUS AGRICULTURAL FIELDS FOR OPTIMIZED ERI-SILKWORM REARING

This study explores the integration of rice mill wastewater-fed constructed wetlands with Eri ( ) Samia ricini sericulture, using castor ( ) as a dual-purpose crop for phytoremediation and silkworm feed. Ricinus communisCastor leaves grown in constructed wetlands showed significantly higher moisture (75.2% vs. 72.5%),nitrogen (2.7% vs. 2.1%), sulphur (0.22% vs. 0.16%), protein (17.4 mg/g vs. 15.6 mg/g), and phenol content (2.1 mg/g vs. 1.6 mg/g), compared to those from agricultural fields-indicating enhanced metabolic and adaptive responses.However, Eri silkworms fed with agricultural leaves achieved greater larval weights at the 5th instar (4.54 g vs. 4.27 g), cocoon weights (2.1 g vs. 1.95 g), shell weights (0.5 g vs. 0.43 g), and shell ratios (23.8% vs. 22.3%), with all differences statistically significant (p < 0.00001).Seasonal effects were notable in mature leaf yield, with agricultural sites performing better in winter.While wetland castor presents a sustainable option for wastewater reuse and offers high nutritional value, its benefits did not translate into improved silk yield.Agricultural castor remains more effective for commercial eri-silk production.These findings offer actionable insights for optimizing sericulture systems that balance environmental sustainability with economic viability.