Journal of Soil Future Research

From Earth to Textile: Exploring the Soil-to-Silk Continuum

Barsha Barala1, Priti Pragyan Ray2, Purushottam Dash3

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Version of record

This is an author-deposited copy. The version of record was originally published elsewhere: Originally published in Journal of Soil Future Research, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2026. DOI 10.54660/JSFR.2026.7.2.61-64 . Original source: https://www.soilfuturejournal.com/archives/year-2026.vol-7.issue-2.

Abstract

The silk production is one of the most complex biological process, which is governed by the interaction of silkworm genetics, host plant quality, environmental conditions, and nutritional availability. The biological foundation of this process upstream into the soil nutrition availability in the ‘Soil to Silk’ continuum. This present review examines this continuum emphasising how soil fertility and nutrient availability influence host plant nutritional and biochemical quality, which subsequently affects larval growth, silk-gland development, cocoon characteristics and silk productivity. Evidences from domesticated Bombyx mori and semi-domesticated and wild silk-producing species, including Antheraea mylitta, A. assamensis, A. pernyi and A. yamamai, is synthesized in this review across major sericultural regions. Studies on B. mori demonstrate that soil fertility, balanced NPK nutrition and micronutrient availability influence mulberry productivity and leaf quality, while leaf nitrogen and aminoacid composition are associated with silkworm growth and silk production in the species. In tropical Tasar and Muga systems, although this continuum is strongly influenced by forest ecology, host plant identity, climate and local soil conditions. Notably, evidence from A. mylitta demonstrates that nutrient availability does not necessarily translate into higher silk productivity as proven through Mn continuum. Thus the silk productivity is not simply governed by nutrient abundance, but by nutrient balance and ecological compatibility. This review identifies a critical research gap in soil to plant and plant to silkworm interactions which are generally investigated separately, whereas the integrated soil-plant-silkworm-silk pathway remains insufficiently characterized.

Keywords: Tasar silkSoilParent Material MinerologyNutritionSoil-Silk Continuum

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