Journal of Agriculture and Natural Resources
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Genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance and correlation among yield and yield components of rice (Oryza sativa L.)
Get PDFThis study was conducted during summer 2015 at Regional Agriculture Research Station, Dipayal, Doti, Nepal to estimate the genotypic and phenotypic variability, heritability, genetic advance and correlation on grain yield and yield associated traits using 26 advance genotypes of lowland irrigated rice. Analysis of variance revealed the existence of significant difference for days to flowering, maturity, plant height, panicle length, thousand grain weight and grain yield. High heritability was estimated for days to flowering (0.88), maturity (0.79), thousand grain weight (0.48) and plant height (0.43) suggesting these traits are under high genetic control. High phenotypic variation was observed for grain yield (24.87%), number of grains/panicle (22.45%), number of panicles/m2 (20.95%) and straw yield (20.75%) while grain yield had medium (12.02%) and remaining traits showed low genotypic coefficient of variation (<10%). High phenotypic coefficient of variation estimated as compared to genotypic coefficient of variation showed environmental influence on the expression of traits. Grain yield (11.98) and days to flowering (10.32) showed medium and remaining traits sowed low genotypic advance as percent of mean. High to low heritability with moderate to low genotypic advance as percent of mean suggested these traits were governed by non additive gene thus direct selection is not beneficial. Further improvements on yield potentiality and yield traits on these genotypes are suggested by creating variation and selection. Panicle length (r = 0.230), days to flowering (r = 0.247), effective tillers (r = 0.488) and straw yield (r = 0.846) manifested significant positive association with grain yield indicating that yield can be increased if selection applied in favor of those yield components
Technical efficiency of hybrid maize production in eastern terai of Nepal: A stochastic frontier approach
Get PDFMaize is the second most important crop after rice in terms of area and production in Nepal. This article analyzes the technical efficiency and its determinants of hybrid maize production in eastern Nepal. Using a randomly selected data from 98 farmers (41 from Morang and 57 from Sunsari) in eastern Nepal, the study employed a stochastic frontier production model to find the production elasticity coefficients of inputs, determinants of efficiency and technical efficiency of hybrid maize farmers. The results showed that maize production responds positively to increase in amount of urea, DAP and the area planted, where as it is negative to seed quantity. The study indicate that farmers are not technically efficient with a mean technical efficiency 79 %. Socioeconomic variable age had a negative and significant while the household size had a positive and significant related to maize output. The younger farmers were observed more technically efficient than older farmers. Larger the members in the household higher the maize production. It is recommended that farmers should increase their fertilizer dose and farm size while they should decrease their seed rate for efficient production
Impacts of climate change on rice production and strategies for adaptation in Chitwan, Nepal
Get PDFThis study was conducted to understand perception of farmers about climate change; how it affects rice production and what are the local adaptation strategies adopted by farmers to maintain rice yield in Chitwan district of Nepal. A total of 90 rainy season rice farming household were surveyed with semi-structured interview schedule. The data obtained were analyzed using SPSS and MS Excel. Majority of the respondents (91.20%) perceived deviation in weather parameters in last 10 years. Most of the farmers had perceived drought as the major impact of climate change and nursery stage of rice to be highly prone to climate impact. Higher proportion of farmers had experienced delay in transplanting and harvesting time of paddy in last 10 years. Many farmers had already replaced local varieties by either improved or hybrid rice variety resilient to climate change. Increased insects infestation and weed menace along with outbreak of new types were found to be major production problem perceived by farmers at study area. Most of the respondents (50%) were expecting technical supports followed by infrastructure development (20.6%) from different organizations. Climate resilient projects and programs designed in bottom up approach to enhance understanding of impacts of climate change will help farmers to cope climate risk on rice production
Study on nutrient supply in relation to feeding system of buffalo in Chitwan, Nepal
Get PDFLivestock farming in Nepal, especially buffalo farming alone contributes a major share in livelihoods of farmers. Stall feeding of buffalo is common in Chitwan with occasional grazing. This raises questions about status of nutrients supplied to maintain productivity as feed resources varied in forest and crop land according to the season. A study was carried out in Chitwan from April 2015 to March 2016 to find out the status of nutrient supply in relation to the feeding system of buffalo. Total fifteen farms were selected from three villages, the amount of feedstuff fed to the animals was measured every month and the nutrient contents of the feed were analyzed. The mean concentrations of DM, CP, TDN, Ca and P were 641g/kg, 75.0 g/kg, 462 g/kg, 4.9 g/kg and 4.2 g/kg. A significant difference of CP contents among the villages was observed (72.0 g/kg, 70.7 g/kg and 81.2 g/kg (P<0.01), and the highest content of CP, TDN, Ca and P were found in July (P<0.05)). The study showed variation in nutrient supplied, irrespective of the status and condition of buffalo in the farms which need to be considered to maintain productivity of the animals
Effects of planting time on growth, development and productivity of maize (Zea mays L.)
Get PDFPlanting date plays important role in the growth, development and yield of maize. Optimum planting date has becomes a prime importance for higher crop production. The plant establishment as well as pest and disease incidence are affected by planting dates. Crop varieties respond differently to planting dates. Early or late planting dates on maize causes an array of morpho-anatomical, physiological and biochemical changes in plants, which affect plant growth and development and such changes may lead to a drastic reduction in yield. Maize growth and development involves numerous biochemical reactions which are sensitive to variance in weather parameters as affected by planting dates. Delayed planting dates affect traits namely anthesis silking interval, photosynthesis, physiological maturity and dry matter production due to reduction in cumulative interception of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Late planting dates cause higher non-structural carbohydrate concentration in stems at mid-grain filling stages due to low temperature exposure of crop limiting kernel growth and photosynthesis. The adverse effects of delayed planting dates can be mitigated by forecasting optimum planting dates through crop modeling experiments. This article summarizes various effects of planting dates on maize growth, development and yield parameters. This information may be useful for maize growers and researchers
Risk of publication in worthless journals
Get PDFoai:nepjol.info:article/22217Implementing research and publishing results is a crucial for a professional development, scientific communication and collaboration of any academicians, scholars, and researchers in science around the world. The timely dissemination of knowledge and scientific information in the global scientific community helps the development of science and worldwide recognition. The researchers working on scientific community cannot appreciate the value of evidence generated without publishing their work in right and quality journals. Therefore, authors should be careful about predatory or fake journals/publishers for communicating their scientific works. The objective of this study is to raise awareness on predatory or fake publishers/journals and of their dishonest publishing practices. In general, the predatory journal publishes without peer review and true editorial board, often publish mediocre or even worthless papers on charging high publication cost, citing fake and non-existing impact factors and mostly focused on private business motives. On the other hand, publishing in a high impact quality journals undoubtedly enhances the future career prospects, communication ability of authors and deliver concise research messages in the scientific field. Researcher of various disciplines and academic experience should aware with the lists of predatory journals/publishers which are available on Beall’s list in internet before publishing any research articles. Therefore, publishing in predatory/fake journals not only spoil or degrade academic reputations but also waste the time, resources and research message too
Economics of fish production at Chitwan district, Nepal
Get PDFA study was conducted in 2016 to analyze the economics of fish production at Chitwan District of Nepal. Three study sites: East, West and South part of Chitwan were selected purposively. A total of 90 households, 30 from each study site were selected randomly and were interviewed by using pre-tested semi structured questionnaire. Secondary data needed for the study were obtained from DADO, MOAD, NARC and other related organizations working on fisheries and aquaculture sector. Descriptive statistics and extended Cobb Douglas production function was used to accomplish the study objectives for which MS-Excel and SPSS 16 were used. The B/C ratio is obtained dividing the gross return by total variable cost incurred. The total cost of production per ha of the pond area was Rs. 743798 per year with 79 and 21 percent variable and fixed cost components, respectively. Feed cost (28 %) was largest cost item followed by cost for labour (25 %), fingerlings (10 %), maintenance (6 %), manure cum fertilizers (5 %), fuel cum energy (3 %) and limestone and others (2%). The average gross return and net profit realized per ha were Rs. 1223934 and Rs. 480135 respectively. The cost, return and profit were calculated to be highest for east Chitwan with highest B/C ratio followed by west Chitwan and south Chitwan. The B/C ratio for the district was found to be 1.63. The return to scale was found to be decreasing with value of 0.654 indicating that 1 percent increment in all the inputs included in the function will increase income by 0.654 percent. Production function analysis, including five variables, showed significant effect of human labour, fingerlings and fuel cum energy cost but feed and manure cum fertilizers cost were insignificant
Fruit characterization of different avocado (Persea americana Mill.) genotypes in eastern mid-hills of Nepal
Get PDFThe total of thirteen different avocado (Persea americana Mill.) genotypes were collected for evaluating the fruit characteristics in the laboratory of Agricultural Research Station, Pakhribas during November 2017. The fully matured fruits from the farmer\u27s field at Patle, Dhankuta were collected. The criteria for selecting the genotypes were fruit weight, fruit length, fruit diameter, seed weight, pulp weight, pulp to fruit ratio and the seed weight percentage. The result suggests the potentiality of the genotypes PAKAV002 and PAKAV010 in most of the evaluated characters as compared to the tested genotypes. The genotypes PAKAV008 and PAKAV007 were disliked as they have 32.59% and 28.39% of seed weight to the total fruit weight. The genotypes PAKAV002 and PAKAV010 had the average fruit weight ranging (307.1 g and 346.8 g), maximum of pulp to fruit ratio 62.34% and 56.97%. Similarly, genotypes PAKAV010 (11.425%), PAKAV013 (11.96%) and PAKAV002 (14.47%) had low seed weight to the total fruit weight which is regarded important factor for avocado selection and evaluation. This result shows that the genotypes PAKAV002 and PAKAV010 should be further evaluated for fruit characteristics and the quality
The fodder oat (Avena sativa) mixed legume forages farming: Nutritional and ecological benefits
Get PDFOat (Avena sativa L.) is one of the most important cultivated winter fodder crops for livestock in Nepal, Yet, its production potential is not fully explored in Nepal for different locations and in combination with legumes. One of the major problems in ruminant feeding in Nepal is the shortage of quality fodder during the winter season where oats-legume mixture would play an important role. Oats are better adapted to different soil types and can perform better on acid soils in comparison to other small cereal grains. Intercropping is a traditional farming technique, which is important in farming systems of developing countries but far less widespread in mechanized systems; however, there is an increased interest in intercropping systems for developing sustainable farming systems mostly for grass-legume polycultures. The review concluded that oats in combination with legumes could be a potential model of intercropping to attain an increased forage dry matter (DM) yield without jeopardizing the quality issue, especially during winter and further, it is required to define the optimum management of these grass-legume species such as oats and vetch and oats and pea in various environments such as choice of grasses and legume species, seed rate, sowing time and fertilizer efficiencies, irrigation requirements and increase in herbage quality is possible if the legumes are dominant in grass-legumes mixture. The advantage of oat-legume mix farming is that it may be produced in a wider range of soil classes, which determines the ecological benefits. However, it further requires a series of experiments to conclude in all aspects
Profitability of large cardamom enterprise in Nepal?: Evidence from financial analysis
Get PDFLarge Cardamom is major exportable commodities prioritized by Ministry of Commerce and Supply in Nepal. However, no study has been reported for its financial analysis in the country. In this context, this study was designed and conducted in Ilam, Panchthar, and Taplejung to assess the profitability and financial viability of cardamom production. Primary data needed for the study were collected using structured survey schedule with 30 randomly selected cardamom growers from each selected district in May-July 2017. Primary information mainly compose information on investment cost, operating cost and revenue. Three Focus Group Discussions were also carried out in each district for triangulation of collected information. The secondary data were used for the Compound Annual Growth Analysis and financial analysis. The economic yield starts from the fourth year and remains similar up to 20 years. But, it was found from the study that with the proper management of the crop cultivation packages, about 10% yield starts from third year which have not been reported yet. The financial analysis result showed that, the Return on Investment was found about 160% with payback period of 4.09 years. Similarly, Net Present Value was assessed at NRs. 3,545,771 at 12% discount rate. Likewise, the Internal Rate of Return Benefit-Cost Ratio of cardamom production was 82.6% and 3.06, respectively. The sensitivity analysis with 20% increase in the cost of production and 20% decrease in the sold price rate also found profitable and viable enterprises as its Return on Investment is 34%, PBP is 5.64 years, NPV equals NRs. 2,154,393, IRR 57.6% and BCR found 2.06. Hence, the study recommends that this enterprise is very profitable and viable and farmer could invest confidently even its rate fluctuates very often