Journal of Agriculture and Natural Resources
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Pesticides handling practices among potato growers in Kavrepalanchok, Nepal
Get PDFThe rate of pesticide application in the agricultural field is surging. Farmers are getting exposed to pesticide hazards from the misuse and unsafe handling of pesticides. The study was conducted among 101 potato growers in Kaverpalanchok district of Nepal in 2018. The objective of the study was to assess the knowledge, status, and pesticide handling practices among potato growers. Around 94% farmers applied pesticides against early and late blight. Only 5% growers treated seed before potato sowing. About 93 and 73% farmers sprayed pesticides 2-10 times/season into the field and spent 2-6 hours/pesticide spray respectively. More than 2/3rd growers did not read the pesticide labels, and nearly 95% growers received information on pesticide applications from agrovet rather than authorized government bodies. Only 13% farmers had received Integrated Pest Management (IPM) training. However, 1/4th of them had practiced IPM techniques. The majority of the growers used masks, rubber boots, and long-sleeved clothes during pesticide handling. Nearly 2/3rd growers threw pesticide containers anywhere in the environment. Concerned authorities should provide IPM training, skill-building programs on pesticide handling and awareness on waiting period and environmental hazards to avoid pesticide risk
Incidence and predation rate of hornet (Vespa spp.) on European honeybee (Apis mellifera L.) apiary at mid-hill areas of Lalitpur district, Nepal
Get PDFPredatory hornets are considered as one of the major constraints to beekeeping industry. Therefore, its incidence and predation rate was studied throughout the year at two locations- rural and forest areas of mid-hill in Laliptur district during 2016/017 to 2017/018. Observation was made on the number of hornet and honey bee captured by hornet in three different times of the day for three continuous minutes every fortnightly on five honeybee colonies. During the study period, major hornet species captured around the honeybee apiary at both locations were, Vespa velutina Lepeletier, Vespa basalis Smith, Vespa tropica (Linnaeus) and Vespa mandarina Smith. The hornet incidence varied significantly between the years and locations along with different observation dates. Their incidence and predation rates were low in early spring and summer that gradually increased with the highest peak in October and November in both locations. The maximum predation was on mid-November (62.07%) and early-November (53.49%) at rural and forest locations, respectively during 2016/017. In 2017/018, the highest predation was on early-November (70.27%) at rural area while it was in mid-November (58.62%) in the apiaries near the forest area. The population of hornet was considerably higher at forest areas and their incidence around the honeybee apiaries were negatively correlated with rainfall. Hence, assessment of the temporal and spatial population variations and predation rates along with weather parameters is helpful in to develop sustainable management plans of the hornet in apiary
Advances in fruit breeding in Nepal
Get PDFNepal has spent about six decades on fruit development and research in different species. Fruit breeding particularly local and exotic germplasm collection started after 1950s and has gained momentum after the formation of commodity programme in 1972 AD. Major researches in the past were focused on indigenous and exotic genotype collection, evaluation, selection, propagation protocol standardization and adoptive trials. Some good ground works have already been done in major fruits such as apple, pear, plum, persimmon, kiwifruit, citrus, litchi, guava, pomegranate, walnut, papaya, banana and mango. The major public institutions involved in fruit breeding are Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) following Agriculture and Forestry University. Some of the private nurseries like Everything Organic Nursery, Kavre and Technology Demonstration Centre of ICIMOD, Lalitpur were also involved in introduction and maintenance of indigenous and exotic fruit species. National Centre for Fruit Development, Kirtipur; Tropical Region Horticulture Centre, Nawalpur; Temperate Horticulture Farm, Satbanj, and Horticulture Farm, Marpha collected many local and exotic fruits and maintained at field gene bank. Horticulture Research Station, Rajikot has introduced 25 spur type apple cultivars and maintained in field gene bank. National Citrus Research Programme, Paripatle has introduced, collected and maintained 130 genotypes including exotic and indigenous landraces of citrus. Two varieties of acid lime ‘Sunkagati-1’ and ‘Sunkagati-2’ have been released and one variety ‘Terhathum Local’ has been registered. ‘Khoku Selection’ of mandarin orange has also been registered. Banana varieties \u27Malbhog\u27, \u27Willium Hybrid\u27 and \u27G9\u27 has been selected by participatory varietal selection and registered. To strengthen fruit breeding in the nation, NARC needs to be restructured with special focus on fruit researches. Establishment of national fruit commodity programs along with establishment of Tropical Fruit Research Station in Province 2 and Temperate Fruit Research Station in Province 5 at national level can streamline NARC\u27s fruit breeding researches
Community based seed production through IRRI /IAAS projects in western mid hills of Nepal: A review
Get PDFA review on the community based seed production through IRRI/IAAS projects was made to know the seed production situation in western mid hills of Nepal. In Nepal, around 90% of seeds are supplied through informal sector where seed replacement rate (SRR) of major staple food crops is around 10%. The formal seed supply systems are characterized by a vertically organized production and distribution of released or registered varieties by public and private organizations using agreed quality control mechanism. Community Based Seed Production (CBSP) is one of the most important community resources from which, small holder farmers can improve their livelihoods which serves as a means to attain food and nutrition security and income generation to the farmers. IRRI/IAAS collaborative projects (IFAD TAG 706, STRASA and CURE) have establish 15 CBSP organizations in Lamjung, Tanahun, Gorkha and Bajhang district since 2006 to 2014 and producing quality seed annually. Project team has developed a unique type of working modality to get success in research, development and technology dissemination. Conduction of PVS trial annually in key sites, regular training to farmers, exposure visit of farmers, monthly meeting with farmers, regular minikit distribution in new sites, award to best seed producers, collaborative work with respective DADOs are some examples. Though CBSPs have faced major challenges like limitation of fund for seed buying, availability of quality source seed in time and place, availability of machines like moisture meter, grading machines, weighing machines, seed storage problems, marketing problems, natural disasters etc. the projects have contributed in release of rice varieties like Ghaiya-2, Sukhadhan series from 1 to 6, Bahuguni, Hardinath-2 and Chiyarang sub-1 as drought tolerant, and Ramdhan, Sunaulo sugandha, Mithila, Swarna sub 1 and Barkhe 1022 as irrigated varieties during project period
Technical efficiency of rice production in terai district of Nepal
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This paper aimed to estimate the technical efficiency of rice production, also identifying the factors affecting technical efficiency. Jhapa, the Terai district of Nepal, having the highest rice production in the country, was purposely selected for the study. The primary information was collected from 100 rice growing farmers, randomly selected from the sampling frame, using the pre-tested semi-structured interview schedule. Also, two Key Informant Surveys were done. Besides, the secondary information was collected by reviewing the related literatures. Descriptive statistics, stochastic frontier model with Cobb-Douglas production function, and tobit model were used for data analysis. The stochastic production frontier model revealed that with the increase in seed, chemical fertilizer, human labor, and tractor power by 1 percent, the rice yield increases by 0.25 (P<0.05), 0.15 (P<0.01), 0.13 (P<0.05) and 0.21 (P<0.01) percent respectively. The average technical efficiency of the rice growing farmers in the study area was estimated 92%; in addition, majority of the farmers (62%) were operating at an efficiency level of 0.91- 0.95 followed by 32% at 0.86- 0.90. The tobit regression model revealed that farming experience (P<0.01), membership of the organization (P<0.01), and major occupation being agriculture (P<0.05) have statistically significant and positive on technical efficiency; while, schooling years (P<0.05) and number of economically active family members (P<0.05) have statistically significant but negative effect. There is still scope to increase the rice yield through efficient use of available resources with existing technologies
Collaborative exploration and collection of native plant genetic resources as assisted by agrobiodiversity fair
Get PDFThis article describes the agrobiodiversity fair aided exploration and collection expedition of native plant genetic resources in southern Lalitpur, jointly organized by the National Agriculture Genetic Resources Centre (NAGRC) and Group of Helping Hands (SAHAS) Nepal. In-district one-day agrobiodiversity fairs were organized in February and December month of 2019, altogether two times, and these agrobiodiversity fairs were used as a tool to explore plant genetic resources found in Bagmati and Mahankal Rural Municipalities of Lalitpur district. To collect these explored genetic resources during agrobiodiversity fairs, the joint field expedition, key informant survey, diversity rich farmers discussion was used as a collection tool. The present study explored, inventoried, collected and conserved 148 accessions of 44 crop species, the highest number (18 accessions) was of chayote followed by 10 accessions each of soybean, cowpea and maize and 9 accessions of common bean. Collections are generally new and unique. Many landraces, mostly from rice (13 landraces) were identified as extinct from the surveyed areas and few are under extinction mainly due to attraction of farmers to new high yielding varieties. The collected species with orthodox seeds were tested for germination ability and those that passed a minimum of 85% germination, were preserved in seedbank of NAGRC. NAGRC plans to characterize these accessions in the coming seasons depending upon the season of crop growing. The current expedition collected eight species for which mode of propagation is vegetative or those for which seed storage behavior falls under intermediate mode. NAGRC has been started expanding field genebank coverage using these accessions
Resource use efficiency of maize production with and without irrigation system in Kaski, Nepal
Get PDFThe study examined the resource use efficiency of maize production in rainfed and irrigated conditions in Kaski, Nepal. It focused specially on the production function of maize, resource use efficiency and socioeconomic characteristics of the farmers. A well-structured interview schedule was used in this study. Out of the 368 households interviewed, 165 farmers cultivated maize and a total of 157 farmers (59 from irrigated and 98 from rainfed) provided useful data. The data analysis was done by using Microsoft excel and SPSS. Cobb-Douglas production function was used to determine the resource use efficiency of maize production. Compared to rainfed system, maize productivity in irrigated system was higher despite the use of fewer input implying irrigation. Increase in seed use by 10% increased the yield by 1.9% in case of rainfed system and 0.05% in case of the irrigated system. The major implication for the study is that farmers should make proper utilization of their resources to achieve higher level of resource use efficiency
Response of pipeline Nepalese maize hybrids to different doses of chemical fertilizers under varying plant densities
Get PDFLow plant population and inadequate fertilizer application are constraints for maize production among farmers in Nepal. In order to identify the integrated effects of plant density and fertilizer dose for production of hybrid maize, series of on station experiments were carried out at Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal using strip plot design with three replications during winter seasons in two consecutive years 2016/17 and 2017/18. Two promising Nepalese hybrids namely RML-95/RML-96 and RML-86/RML-96 were taken as vertical factor whereas five densities viz. 55,555 ha-1(D1), 66,666 ha-1 (D2), 77,519 ha-1 (D3), 87,719 ha-1 (D4) and 98,039 ha-1 (D5) in combination with two doses of NPK fertilizers i.e. recommended and rational as horizontal factor. Recommended dose of NPK for maize was 120:60:40 kg ha-1 and the rational doses for above mentioned densities were calculated based on bench mark of fertilizer recommendation for 53,333 plants ha-1. Derived rational doses of NPK for D1, D2, D3, D4 and D5 were 125:63:42, 150:75:50, 174:87:58, 197:99:66, 221:110:74 kg ha-1 respectively. Genotypic variation of two tested hybrids for growth, yield attributes and grain yield were found statistically similar. However, planting the hybrids in various densities and fertilizer doses significantly influenced grain yield ranging from 5.63 to 7.91 t ha-1. Significantly higher grain yield (7.91 t ha-1) and benefit cost ratio (2.21) were observed when plant population was maintained at 77,519 ha-1 with fertilizer dose 174:87:58 NPK kg ha-1. Applying fertilizer as rational dose enhanced the yield up to the density of 77519 plants ha-1 then the yield gradually declined as the density increased. Whereas recommended dose of fertilizer with increasing plant density from 55,555 to 87,719 ha-1 had statistically similar yield and declined more at 98039 ha-1. The present recommended dose of fertilizer application is inadequate for higher plant density to increase the grain yield of hybrid maiz
Seed-borne infestation and management of Alternaria Species in mustard seed at Chitwan district, Nepal
Get PDFAlternaria blight in mustard cause heavy damage to the foliar parts resulting into poor growth and development of plants and thereby reduces seed yield. Inorder to manage Alternaria infestation in mustard seed for yield maximization, an experiment was conducted in the plant protection laboratory in Nepal Polytechnic Institute, Bharatpur, Chitwan in 2018, using Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four replicates. Five treatments i.e.Uthane M-45 (2g/kg), Neem powder (3 g/kg), Bojho powder (4g/kg), Trichoderma harzianum, (107 Conidia/mL) and control (without treatment) were used for seed treatment of local variety of Mustard. Four hundred seeds for each treatment (25 seeds in each petriplate) were plated using triple layers of moistened blotter paper in petriplate and incubated at (27±20C) for 2 days and followed deep freezing for 24 hrs. Data of disease incidence and seed germination were recorded in 3, 7 and 10 days after incubation (DAI). Seedling vigor and seedling weight were also recorded at 5 DAI. The percentage of Alternaria spp incidence on seeds at different DAI showed highly significant with respect to different treatments. Application of Uthane M-45 and T. harzianum significantly reduced the seed-borne infection of Alternaria spp. as compared to control. At 3 DAI Uthane M-45 completely checked the pathogen however, only 4% and 5% disease incidence was observed in 7 DAI and 10 DAI respectively. Bio control agent Trichoderma harzianum was found next best alternative after Uthane M-45 to control disease. Plant extract Bojho powder and Neem powder were found better than control to check the disease. Furthermore, highest germination (76%) was observed in Trichoderma treatment whereas, lowest germination was found in control
Comparative assessment of profile storage of soil organic carbon and total nitrogen in forest and grassland in Jajarkot, Nepal
Get PDFUnderstanding distribution of soil organic carbon and nitrogen in soil profile is important for assessing soil fertility and soil carbon dynamics. However, little is known about their distribution in soil depth below 30cm in Nepal. In this context, this research was carried out in 2019 to determine the Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) and Total Nitrogen (TN) in 0-10 cm, 11-30 cm and 31-60 cm depths of soil profile at forest and grassland in Kotila community forest, Jajarkot, Nepal. Overall field measurement was based on national standard protocols. Three replicates of soil pit from forest and grassland were dug for soil sample collection. Approximately 100 g soil sample from each soil layer was collected and taken to laboratory for SOC analysis. Separate soil samples, one sample from each soil layer were collected with the help of a metal soil corer having volume 245.22cm3 to quantify bulk density. Forest has 25.42 ton/ha SOC stock and 3.28 ton/ha TN stock up to 60 cm soil depth. Likewise, Grassland has 21.19 ton/ha SOC stock and 3.14 ton/ha TN stock up to 60cm soil depth. However, these values are not significantly different at 5 % level of significance. The SOC and TN were decreased with increased soil depths, though not significantly different at 5 % level of significance. The C:N ratio was found higher in forest than grassland. It is concluded that SOC and TN do not vary significantly between forest and grassland. Topsoil contains more SOC, TN, and C:N ratio, so the management practices should focus on maintaining inputs of soil organic matter in the forest and grassland