Journal of Agriculture and Natural Resources
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Technical efficiency of potato production in mid western terai region of Nepal
Get PDFA study was done in 2018 to estimate the technical efficiency of potato production in mid western terai region of Nepal.30 households each from Dang, Banke and Bardiya districts were interviewed. Maximum likelihood estimate of the parameter showed the mean technical efficiency of 0.79 which indicated a high scope of increasing the production with the improvement of production technology. The coefficient for the parameter seed, Urea, DAP, MOP and labour were positive contributing for the production of potato. The parameter Compost, pesticides, herbicides and hour of tractor use were negative. The use of these input could be improved for increasing the production of potato. The farm specific variables Education, contact with the extension agent and farm size showed negative coefficient which causes less inefficiency of the farmers in production of potato while the coefficient for Age was estimated to be positive
Economic analysis of fish production using different feed types practiced in Dhanusha district, Nepal
Get PDFA study on the economic analysis of fish production using different feed types practiced in Dhanusha district was conducted in 2018. Out of 600 fish farmers, sixty fish farmers(10%) from the Fish Superzone region i.e. Janakpur sub-metropolitan city, Bideh municipality, Sahidnagar municipality, Kamala municipality, Hanspur municipality, Janaknandani rural municipality and Aaurahi rural municipality, selected using simple random sampling, were surveyed using semi-structured questionnaire. The study revealed that locally formulated mash feed was commonly used feed type in which rice bran and mustard oil cake (RB+MOC) was the principle feed ingredient. 55% of the farmers used rice bran and mustard oil cake (RB+MOC), 20% used rice bran, mustard oil cake and soybean (RB+MOC+SOB), 10% used rice bran, mustard oil cake and fish meal (RB+MOC+FM) and 15% farmers mineral and vitamin (RB+MOC+MIN/VIT) in their feed formulation. The productivity of the fish production in feed type RB+MOC+SOB (3.41±1.02) was significantly higher than other feed type. The total variable cost per ha (5.23±2.11) was found significantly(p<0.05) higher in feed type RB+MOC+SOB. Similarly, gross margin (4.44±2.74) received by farmers of feed type RB+MOC+SOB was also significantly high(p<0.05). The Benefit: Cost (B:C) ratio of the study area was found to be 1.69, high being of feed type RB+MOC+SOB(1.84) compared to others. The feed type RB+MOC+SOB is seen as a economically profitable one in the study area because of the high productivity, profit and B:C ratio. High feed cost was the major problem followed by the unavailability of feed. Fish farming can be a profitable business in Dhanusha with large opportunity to increase the fish production with increasing protein sources in the feed used. Farmers should be provided sufficient information, trainings and be encouraged to incorporate the protein rich sources like soybean and fish meal in the feed prepared to increase the productivity and ultimately return
Screening of local, improved and hybrid rice genotypes against leaf blast disease (Pyricularia oryzae) at Banke district, Nepal
Get PDFRice (Oryza sativa) is the major cereal crop of Nepal which is being faced by the devastating rice blast disease caused by Pyricularia oryzae Cavara. An experiment was conducted to screen rice genotypes against leaf blast disease under disease conducive upland nursery at Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Khajura, Banke, Nepal during July to November, 2016. A total of 101 rice genotypes (comprising of local, improved and hybrid) including resistant and susceptible check were screened in a randomized complete block design with two replications. Disease scoring was done beginning from the 20th days of sowing by using the disease rating scale 0-9. Amongst the tested 101 rice genotypes, 28 genotypes were found resistant, 15 genotypes were moderately resistant, 16 genotypes were moderately susceptible, 39 genotypes were susceptible and 3 genotypes were highly susceptible to leaf blast. The information revealed from this study could be helpful for rice leaf blast disease management and utilizing these resistant and moderately resistant genotypes for further resistance breeding program
On-farm Conservation Approaches for Agricultural Biodiversity in Nepal
Get PDFAgricultural biodiversity is the basis for agricultural research and development. This paper is based on the survey across the country along with the field implementation and action research on different conservation approaches over the years and locations. Management of agricultural biodiversity is being initiated in Nepal through ex-situ, on-farm, in-situ and breeding strategies by National Agriculture Genetic Resources Center (National Genebank) from 2010. National Genebank has implemented on-farm conservation across the country. Different approaches are community seed bank, community field genebank, household seed bank, household field genebank, village level field genebank and school field genebank. In addition to these, landrace enhancement program and recognition of agro-biodiversity rich farmers have also contributed on conserving APGRs. Identification of agro-biodiversity rich farmers have been initiated in collaboration with different governmental and non-governmental organizations across the country. Strong network among these farmers is supposed to establish for effectively managing APGRs on-farm. Agro-biodiversity conserved by such farmers is called household genebank, which consist of seed storage (household seed bank) and household field genebank. There are more than 100 CSBs in the country and some of them are conserving local genetic resources. Eight community field genebanks have been functionalized for conserving recalcitrant seeds and vegetatively propagated crop species. Village level field genebank has been established by NGO in Makwanpur district to conserve banana and taro. In this approach, different households grow different landraces, maintaining maximum diversity within a village. In some areas, school field genebank has been established by growing local APGRs in school areas. This helps to conserve APGRs, educate the students, earn the income and make environment beautiful. Genebank also encourages farmers to reintroduce the landraces from the National Genebank. Accessioning these APGRs and training to farmers and farming communities are necessary to effectively and efficiently conserving and utilizing APGRs on-farm
Genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)
Get PDFGenetic variability in a crop population is important for successful plant breeding. Eight cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) genotypes namely Green Long, Simran, Bhaktapur Local, Saihni-2, Ninja-179, Garima, Farmer’s variety and wild genotype were evaluated at Lamahi Municipality, Dang district of Nepal to estimate the magnitude of their genetic variability and heritability. Analysis of variance revealed significant differences among genotypes for growth and yield traits. The estimates of genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV) and phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) were highest for weight of fruit whereas traits namely fruit length, fruit diameter and days to maturity had medium value for both GCV and PCV. Broad sense heritability estimates ranged from 0.74 for fruit diameter to 0.98 for days to germination. Fruit yield showed high significant positive correlation with fruit diameter (r= 0.649) and negative significant correlation (r= -0.538) with days to flowering. Traits namely weight per fruit, days of germination, no. of flower and days to flowering can be used effectively in selection process of crop improvement program as they had high GCV, PCV and heritability along with high genetic advance as percentage of mean
Response of rice to different organic and inorganic nutrient sources at Parwanipur, Bara district of Nepal
Get PDFIn order to reach an optimum and sustainable production, growers must know the fertilizing nutrient sources and their application rates. The present study aimed to determine the effect of different organic and inorganic source of fertilizers on growth and performance of rice. A field experiment was conducted at Regional Agriculture Research Station, Parwanipur, Bara, Nepal during summer season of 2013. Rice variety ‘Hardinath 1’ was used in these experiments. Treatments included a combination of organic and inorganic nutrients at eight rates (control, recommended dose of NPK, ½ NPK+FYM 10 t ha-1, ½ NPK+20 cm crop residue, ½ NPK+Chicken manure 10 t ha-1, ½ NPK+Vermicompost 10 t ha-1, FYM 10 t ha-1 and FYM 20 t ha-1).The experiments were laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design with four replications. Treatments produced significant results for plant height, number of tillers per square meter, panicle length and grain yield but thousands grains weight was insignificant. Result showed that application of half of recommended N: P2O5: K2O from the inorganic fertilizer sources along with soil incorporation of 20 cm crop residue produced significantly higher value for plant height, number of tillers per square meter, panicle length and Grain yield. Treatments did not produce significant effect on after harvest soil properties: pH, organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content
Herbage mass and chemical composition of the heterogeneous grasslands affected by harvesting time in Subtropical terrain Nepal
Get PDFA study was carried out to evaluate the productivity and chemical composition of heterogeneous grasslands at Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU) livestock farm. The four grassland ecotypes were chosen as upland north, upland south, lowland south and lowland north. The dominating herbage species and cover abundance by the botanical groups were studied on day before the harvesting. Later, the herbage dry matter productivity was estimated by quadrat cutting during May and June, 2017. Chemical analysis was done by using the proximate method for dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), crude fiber (CF) and ether extract (EE) content. Research results showed that the AFU grassland dominated by perennial grasses and sedges followed by the forbs. The mean coverage of grasses and sedges was about 55%, whilst that of forbs was about 29% and the least was for legumes (about 4%). The cumulative herbage mass was about 1.53 t/ ha on the DM basis, whilst the highest DM was found in the upland-south (1.74 t/ha) and the least was in the upland-north (1.334 t/ha). The proximate analysis further revealed that the site had no effect on CF content, whilst the CP was significant only at the second harvest for the lowland north (8.34%). Data revealed that the herbage composition might depend upon the soil moisture availability and geographical aspect. The dominance of perennial grasses at AFU grasslands revealed the yield stability, but needs the improvement through inoculation with leguminous forages for improved feed quality
Economics of chhari and marketable-size carps in Bara, Nepal
Get PDFA study was conducted to analyze the economics of production of chhari and marketable-size carps in Bara, Nepal. All total 90 farmers; 45 chhari producing and 45 marketable-size carps producing farmers were selected randomly and surveyed through pre-tested semi-structured interview based schedule on the month of March, 2019. Data was entered and analyzed using STATA 12.1 and SPSS 25. Findings of the study revealed that the total cost of fish production per hectare of pond area was 971927 NRs/year. Chhari production was profitable in the study area as compared to marketable-size carps with a Benefit Cost Ratio of 1.97 and 1.67 respectively. Production function analysis including six explanatory variables, showed significant effect of feed, labour (p<0.01), maintenance, fuel and electricity (p<0.05) and lime, fertilizer and medicine costs (p<0.1) but seed cost was insignificant. The return to scale was found to be 0.906 and at II stage of Production. According to estimated allocative efficiency indices, it is suggested to reduce seed; and lime, fertilizer cum medicine cost by 159% and 72% respectively, and increase the maintenance; feed; fuel cum electricity; and labour cost by about 95%, 33%, 95%, and 50% respectively for chhari producers. Similarly for marketable-size carp producers, it is suggested to decrease fuel and electricity cost by 176% and increase maintenance; seed; feed; lime, fertilizer and medicine; and labour cost by 95%, 86%, 13%, 29%, and 30% respectively. Thus, fishery enterprise is in the stage of higher potentiality to increase the production in the study area
Effect of by-pass protein supplements on milk production of dairy cattle
Get PDFBypass protein stimulates the voluntary feed intake, increase quality milk production and thereby improves the economic status of dairy cows farming. This study was conducted to assess the effect of supplementation of bypass protein on lactation performance of dairy cattle. The experiment was conducted by using 2 factorial completely randomized designs. Milk yield of individual animal was recorded daily and milk composition was recorded at fortnight interval. Results revealed that the average daily milk yield of cows fed with Heat treated soyabean cake-T1 (4.29 L) was greater than cows fed with formalin treated soyabean cake-T2 (3.56 L) followed by control group-T3 (2.62 L). . The fortnight average milk protein and fat percentages were 2.91, 2.94 and 3.18% and 5.52, 5.55 and 4.47% for T0, T1 and T2 groups respectively. The weekly average milk SNF and milk density were 8.12, 8.37 and 8.64 % and 25.67, 27.80 and 27.10%, for group T0, T1 and T2 respectively. Experiment revealed that by-pass protein supplementation to lactating animals is one of the option for improving the milk production and milk composition and suggested that further study should be conducted to precise the optimum level of bypass protein supplementation and to quantify the experimental period
Role of seed priming in improving seed germination and seedling growth of maize (Zea mays L.) under rain fed condition
Get PDFSeed priming enhances early seed emergence and proper crop stand establishment which enables the crop to capture more soil moisture, nutrients, and solar radiation. An on-farm experiment was conducted in Okhaldhunga, Nepal to study the effect of six different priming treatments (50 millimoles common salt solution, 200 millimoles urea solution, 1 percent MOP solution, 2.5 times diluted urine, water, and control) on germination and growth of two maize varieties, Manakamana-3 and Nutan-IL60. The experiment was set up in factorial randomized complete block design with three replications. Various germination traits: germination percent, seedling vigour, germination index, mean germination time, and seedling growth traits: shoot length, root length, and dry root weight, were studied. Nitrogen-based (Urea and Urine) priming resulted the most desirable change for the studied traits. Nitrogen-based priming also had significant positive effect on stress tolerance related traits like root length and dry root weight