Journal of Agriculture and Natural Resources
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Zero till in wheat from the gender perspective in Nepal
Get PDFDifferent tillage practices such as zero-till direct-seeded rice (ZTDSR), zero-till maize (ZTM), and zero-till wheat (ZTW) were implemented in the farmer\u27s field of Sunsari district were evaluated. However, the focus was on ZTW because of high its competitiveness with cheaper wheat from abroad. Focus Group Discussion (FGD), Famers households keeping records, field monitoring, key informant interviews were the primary source of data whereas literature and desktop review were done for secondary data. Zero till wheat operation scale out of the machine use had been increased, by 61.25% out of 109.63ha land in Bhokraha and 66.49 % out of 55.3ha of land in Kaptangunj. Whereas, a new node Chitaha was established with the initiation of non-respondent farmer\u27s where the area occupied 26ha in the year of 2019 respectively as compared to the base year that of 2014. Yield advantage was not much higher with ZTW, the additional benefit of almost 34% over conventional till wheat (CTW) was sufficient enough for the farmers to decide to adopt zero tillage technology. Farmers perceived about 17% saving in seed requirement, 13% saving in irrigation amount and time, and 44% saving in total labor cost with ZTW to make it more profitable as compared to CTW. Among different methods of extension, farmers’ field day with 63% and field trial with 48% with women\u27s participation shows the most effective method to create awareness. Although the percentage of the working hour for the female worker is higher the number of the total hour has been decreased for both the man and women and the total 303.64hr/ha has been saved
Asian elephants and their status in Nepal: a review
Get PDFWild Asian elephants (Elephas maximus) are one of the most endangered wildlife species in Nepal. Currently, there are approximately 200 to 250 wild elephants counted in Nepal. Of them, 15-20 are in Jhapa district, 17 are in KoshiTappu Wildlife Reserve, eight in Sindhuli, and 45-50 in Parsa National Park andChitwan National Park. More than 100 elephants are in Bardiya National Parks and adjoining municipalities, and 25-30 are in Suklaphanta National Park and adjoining municipalities.Elephant conservation is challenged by habitat fragmentation, obstruction of migratory routes and human-elephant conflict. The governments of Nepal, law enforcement, NGOs, and local communities have made various initiatives to conserve elephants. In the paper, we have outlined the current status of the elephant population, and its conservative efforts. This study may be a useful tool for the scientific communities and ecologists to protect elephants from extinction
Plant Parasitic Nematodes and their management in crop production: a review
Get PDFPlant Parasitic Nematodes are small worm like transparent, bilateral symmetry, pseudocoelomate, multicellular, free living or parasitic microorganism which are predatory, aquatic, terrestrial, entopathogenic, ectoparasite, endoparasite, semi-endoparasite or sedentary. They cause substantial problems to major crops throughout the world, including vegetables, fruits, and grain crops. The root knot and cyst nematodes are economically important pests in numerous crops. Crop damage from nematodes is not readily apparent in most cases, and it often remains hidden by the many other factors limiting plant growth. In the past, the control of the nematodes has been based on the synthetic nematicides, the number of which has been drastically restricted in the EU because of their environmental side effects and subsequent restriction in European Union (EU) rules and regulations. Many other methods like cultural control, biological control, use of biotechnological tools and methods, use of resistant cultivars are tested and proven successful in controlling different species of nematodes all over the world. Alternatively, combinations of the different methods are proven to be highly effective both economically and environmentally
Impact of climate change on rice production: an empirical study in Kaski and Nawalparasi, Nepal
Get PDFThis study explores the relationship between climate variables to rice production in Kaski and Nawalparasi district of Nepal. The study was conducted in the year 2016. This study captured the time series data ranging from 1995 to 2014 on rice production, temperature and rainfall of two different districts and analyzed through panel data regression. Regarding primary data collection, a total of 120 sampled households were surveyed by using simple random sampling to understand the perception of farmers to change in climatic parameters using a semi-structured pre-tested questionnaire and Focus Group Discussions. The secondary information was collected from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Department of Hydrology and Meteorology and Centre Bureau of Statistics. The regression model revealed that seasonal rainfall had a linear relation on rice production (p<0.05). Respondents from both districts perceived that temperature, rainfall and hailstone had increased or varied than before. The major problems faced by the farmers of the study area due to climate change were prioritized as drought, flood hailstone, extreme hot and extreme cold. This necessitates the promotion and use of climate-smart technologies for better rice adaptation to climate change
Performance of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus) grown on different fingermillet husk substrates
Get PDFSubstrate type is one of the major factors affecting the growth and yield of oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus). Five substrates; Finger millet husk, Fingermillet husk + Molasses, Fingermillet husk + Rice bran, Fingermillet husk + Wheat bran, Fingermillet husk +Mustard oilseed cake, were evaluated for growth and productivity of oyster mushroom. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with each treatment replicated seven times. Additives were added on finger millet husk @5% of its dry weight. Standard cultivation practice was followed with steam sterilization and spawning was done in poly bags containing 2.5 kg of wet substrate. Data were collected on time taken for full spawn run, fresh mushroom yield, biological efficiency and cropping duration upto three flushes. Molasses took the least duration (16.86 days) for full spawn run which was found to be statistically at par with wheat bran(17.13 days) and rice bran(17.75 days) whereas control treatment took the longest duration (21.62 days). Rice bran produced the highest fresh mushroom yield (793.04g/bag) with highest biological efficiency (137.92%), which was statistically at par with control, molasses and wheat bran. Similarly, rice bran had least cropping duration (66.62 days) followed by control (67.88 days), molasses (69.14 days), wheat bran (70.12 days) and mustard oilseed cake (73.86 days). The lowest fresh yield (521.84 g/bag) with lowest biological efficiency (90.75%) and the longest cropping duration (73.86 days) was observed on mustard oilseed cake supplementation. This study revealed that molasses, rice bran and wheat bran accelerated spawn run whereas mustard oilseed cake supplementation produced lowest fresh mushroom yield with least biological efficiency and highest cropping duration showing that it was ineffective for increasing yield and productivity of oyster mushroom
Response of varying levels of phyto-hormones and micro-nutrients on growth and yield of brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) in sub-tropical Terai region of India
Get PDFA field study was conducted at Horticultural Research Farm, Institute of Agricultural Sciences of Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, India during summer season of 2017-2018 to test the sole effect of phyto-hormones and micro-nutrients on growth of brinjal (Solanum melongena, L.). The thirteen treatments having six different concentration of phytohoromnes viz., T1 (20 ppm NAA), T2 (40 NAA), T3 (60 ppm NAA), T4 (25 ppm GA3), T5 (50 ppm GA3), T6 (75 ppm GA3), and six different concentrations of micronutrients viz., T7 (Boron 0.1%),T8 (Boron 0.2%), T9 (Boron 0.3%), T10 (Zinc 0.1%), T11 (Zinc 0.2%), T12 (Zinc 0.3%) and T13 (control-water spray) for a “Kashi Uttam” cultivar of brinjal were grown under randomized complete block design (RCBD) having three replications. The results findings indicated that treatment T4 (25 ppm GA3) had significant effect on growth parameters, mainly plant height, number of leaves, leaf length, leaf width, crop canopy, number of side roots and main root length. Similarly, yield parameters like number of fruits per plant, fruit weight, fruit yield per plant were found to be significantly superior under treatment T4 (25 ppm GA3). Number of branches per plant, stem diameter, main root length and fruit weight were found superior under treatment T1 (20 ppm NAA). Among the different concentrations of micronutrients treatment T9 (Boron 0.3%) and T12 (Zinc 0.3%) were found to be significant over control. It can be concluded that the phyto-hormones and micro-nutrients can be judiciously used for increasing the growth and yield of brinjal
Performance evaluation of potato clones for the central Terai Region of Nepal
Get PDFA series of experiments were carried out to evaluate the performance of exotic potato clones including PRP lines at research field of Regional Agricultural Research Station (RARS), Parwanipur, Bara, Nepal during the winter seasons of 2017 and 2018. Thirty-nine potato clones were evaluated in initial evaluation trial and eleven clones were evaluated in coordinated varietal trial with check varieties Khumal Ujjwal and Kufri Jyoti. From the initial varietal trial in 2017, the highest tuber yield (21.54 mt/ha) was found in CIP389660.9 followed by CIP391046.14 (21.38 mt/ha). In 2018, the highest tuber yield (29.72 mt/ha) was produced in CIP392759.1 followed by CIP393085.5 (26.92 mt/ha) and CIP391046.14 (26.64 mt/ha). In 2018, the tuber yield was the highest (26.12 mt/ha) in PRP 266265.15 followed by CIP 393371.159 (24.79 mt/ha). In coordinated varietal trial carried out in 2017/18, the highest tuber yield was noted in CIP394600.52 (42.65 mt/ha) followed by CIP395443.103 (30.83 mt/ha) and CIP395445.16 (24.43 mt/ha) respectively. Whereas in 2018/19, the highest yield was produced by PRP266265.15 (26.12 mt/ha) followed by CIP393371.159 (24.79 mt/ha) and CIP 396012.266 (22.66 mt/ha) respectively. In RARS, Parwanipur conditions, CIP 394600.52, CIP 395443.103, CIP 395445.16 and CIP 304394.56 along with PRP 266265.15 were found to be superior to standard check variety. These potential genotypes need to be further verified in farmers field in additional districts of central Terai region before notifying in the national seed system. Adoption of these clones as variety may increase the potato production and improve the food, and nutritional security in the central Terai region of Nepal
Effect of different levels of phosphorus on growth and yield of Cowpea varieties in Dang, Nepal
Get PDFVariety having proper response to phosphorus for proper nutrient uptake and the optimum level of phosphorus for higher yield may be a way of increasing production and productivity in the context of Nepal. This experiment was carried out in Lamahi Municpality, Dang district of the Province no: 5, inner terai region of Nepal during the rainy season, 2019. The objective of the experiment was to study the effect of different phosphorus level on growth and development of different varieties of cowpea. The experiment was laid out in two factorial RCBD with two varieties (Aakash and Prakash) and five phosphorus level (0 kg ha-1, 20 kg ha-1, 40 kg ha-1, 60 kg ha-1 and 80 kg ha-1). The result revealed that variety Aakash showed the significantly higher yield of fresh pod (15.99 t ha-1) and yield attributing parameters like number of leaves at 45 DAS (35.22), leaf area at 45 DAS (70.23 cm²), pod diameter (0.77 cm), total number of fresh pods per plant (44.85) than Prakash variety (yield; 12.25 t ha-1). The parameters like number of branches and pod length were not affected by the variety used. In addition, the different level of P also affects the yield of the fresh pod of different varieties. The P level 40 kg ha-1 reported highest yield of fresh pod (20.18 t ha-1 and showed significantly higher number of leaves (38.9), number of branches (23.48), plant height (88.78cm), leaf area (81.89 cm²), pod length (17.76 cm), pod diameter (0.79 cm) and total number of fresh pods per plant (55.19) whereas control produced the lowest total yield of fresh pod (8.33 t ha-1), control (30.99) and 80 kg P ha-1 (30.86) produced the least number of leaves, control produced the least number of branches (17.31), control (63.77 cm) and 80 kg P ha-1 (67.83) produced the shortest plant, 80 kg P ha-1 produced the minimum leaf area (51.09 cm2), control produced least pod length (14.3 cm), pod diameter (0.74cm), total number of fresh pods (34.29). Similarly, interaction of Aakash and phosphorus dose 40 kg ha-1 produced significantly maximum number of leaves (43.07) and total yield of fresh pods (23.33 t ha-1). The results of the experiment revealed that variety Aakash with the phosphorus level 40 kg ha-1 seems the more profitable in Terai and inner Terai condition of Nepal. However, the results need to be confirmed for other varieties used by farmers in the region
Effect of altitude and shade on production and physical attributes of Coffee in Gulmi, Syangja and Palpa districts of Nepal
Get PDFCoffee (Coffea spps.) is the second most traded commodity in the world after raw oil. Coffee is grown in mid hills of Nepal from an altitude of 700masl to 1500masl under different shade management practices. Nepalese coffee farmers grow coffee in a traditional way with almost zero application of inorganic fertilizers, pesticides and hence Nepalese coffee is popular as organic coffee or specialty coffee in the world. A study was carried out in three Coffee potent adjoining districts of Nepal: Gulmi, Syangja and Palpa. Ripe coffee cherries were harvested from every 200m altitude from 700masl to 1500masl under shade management and without shade management practices. Different physical attributes such as 1000 cherry weight, wet parchment weight, dry parchment weight, green beans weight, defected beans, and green bean diameter were observed. Production from each altitude level was recorded and highest production (7.04 kg per plant) was obtained from an altitude of 900-1100masl . The highest 1000 cherry weight (1297.17g) and the highest green bean weight (450.33 g) were obtained from 900-1100masl. Under no shade management, number of defected beans were 98 per 1000 beans whereas it was 64 under shade. The interaction of altitude and shade management practice had significant effect upon production (P=0.035), 1000 cherry weight (P<0.001), dry parchment weight (P=0.049) and green bean weight (P<0.05). Coffee produced at an altitude of 900-1100masl under shade management practice were found to have higher production and of better quality with fewer defected beans whereas that produced at extreme lower of 700-900masl and extreme higher altitude of 1300-1500masl were found to have lower production and poor quality
Evaluation of maize genotypes against post flowering stalk rot under terai region of Nepal
Get PDFThe inadequate source of resistance materials in maize against major biotic stresses is one of the main reasons for considerable loss of grain yield in Nepal. Post flowering stalk rot disease caused by Fusarium moniliforme is a serious disease that exposes high incidence at grain filling stage of maize in terai region of Nepal during summer season. This study was done to evaluate level of resistance, or tolerance in selected genotypes against the post flowering stalk rot disease of maize. Accordingly, thirty maize genotypes were tested for maize stalk rot resistance during summer season of 2016 and 2017 at National Maize Research Program, Rampur (NMRP), Chitwan. The experiment was done under natural epiphytotic condition at hot spot of the disease by using Randomized Complete Block design with 2 replications for each treatment. The package of practices was followed as per national recommendation. The summer season of 2016 and 2017 were affable for post flowering stalk rot of maize at NMRP, Rampur. Out of 30 genotypes, most of the tested entries showed susceptible reaction during both the years; however, RML-95/RML-96, Across-9942/Across-9944, ZM-401, Rampur 34, RamS03F08 and TLBRS07F16 showed resistant reaction against the disease and might be useful for the development of post flowering stalk rot resistant maize varieties for terai region of Nepal