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Assessment of Soil Fertility Status in Rupani Rural Municipality, Saptari, Nepal
Get PDFAs soil fertility is one of the most important factors for soil productivity, soil fertility management is important for sustainable soil management. This study was conducted to determine the soil fertility status of Rupani Rural Municipality, Saptari, Nepal. A total of 60 soil samples were collected randomly from 0-30 cm depth. The exact location of the samples was recorded using a handheld GPS device. All collected samples were analyzed at a regional soil testing laboratory in Saptari to determine their pH, soil texture, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and organic matter status. In addition, fertility status maps were prepared using ArcGIS 10.8 software. The study area consists mainly of 51.66% clay and 18.33% sandy loam soils. The soil pH ranged from highly acidic to slightly alkaline, with pH values ranging from 4.5 to 8.0. Soil organic matter (0.42-3.21%), nitrogen (0.02-0.16%), available phosphorus (40.1-282.35 kg P2O5/ha) and exchangeable potassium (64.8-729.6 kg K2O/ha) are present in the soil with the status of low to high in the study area. In order to improve crop potential and maintain soil nutrient status through the use of site-specific fertilizers, a reduction in the use of chemical fertilizers and various sustainable soil management practices were adopted. This research provides valuable information to policymakers, farmers, and agricultural stakeholders, facilitating evidence-based decision-making for agricultural development and food security in Rupani Rural Municipality, Saptari, Nepal
Effect of Different Doses of Calcium and Boron Pre-harvest Spray on Post-harvest Quality of Acid Lime (Citrus aurantifolia var. SunKagati-1)
Get PDFAcid Lime (Citrus aurantifolia var. SunKagati-1) has been cultivated in 67 districts of Nepal. Its cultivation is becoming increasingly popular among farmers in Nepal. However, adequate post-harvest loss reduction measures are lacking. A field experiment was conducted in lime orchards in Chitwan during August-September 2019 and 2020. Pre-harvest spraying of different concentrations of calcium (0.1, 0.2, and 0.3%) and boron (0.2, 0.4, and 0.6%) in lime fruit trees was done before 45 and 30 days of fruit harvest. Fruits with the same maturity indices were harvested separately from the treated plants. The post-harvest study was conducted for 1 month under laboratory conditions. Different parameters like physiological loss of weight (PLW), decay loss, total soluble solids (TSS), titrable acidity (TA), ascorbic acid content (vitamin C), and freshness were recorded. Minimum PLW (18.2%) and decay loss (14.3%) were observed in boron (@0.6%) treated fruits. At the end of the experiment, minimum TA (1.79 and 2.12%) was recorded from boron (@0.6%) treated fruits in both years. Calcium (@0.3 %) and boron (@0.4 %) treated fruits expressed the maximum values for TSS in 2019 (9.67ºbrix) and 2020 (7.73 ºbrix), respectively. Fruit harvested from fruit trees sprayed with boron (@0.6%) showed the highest ascorbic acid content (55.47 and 49.61 mg/100g) and better lime freshness (2.67 and 3.0) in 2019 and 2020, respectively. This study concluded that the use of boron @0.6% as a pre-harvest spray can prolong the storage life of sour lime and maintain the fruit quality under environmental conditions of a mid-hill situation
Evaluating the Impact of Various Seed Priming Agents (SPAs) on Germination and Development Parameters of Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus L. Moench)
Get PDFThe present study has been conducted to study the effect of various primer treatments i.e., PEG (5%), PEG (10%), NaCl (2%), KCl (2%), CuSO4•5H2O (2%), NaOH (2%) and control on germination and growth of two okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) varieties (var. Arka Anamika and Clemson). Growth parameters were measured at 10, 20, and 30 DAS, while germination parameters were recorded over a period of seven days. Compared to Arka Anamika, Clemson showed better germination and growth metrics, which also showed significant differences in seed priming treatments. The use of different concentrations of PEG solution for seed priming proved to be particularly effective as evidenced by the highest germination percentage (79%), speed (95.95%), energy (76%), and Vigor index (2037.94 cm). Growth parameters also showed significant differences with these treatments. Similarly, seed priming with 2% NaOH and 2% CuSO4•5H2O had the lowest results for growth and germination metrics. The results highlight how priming can significantly improve the germination and growth of okra seedlings; the Clemson and PEG solution treatments stand out as particularly successful techniques. This highlights the potential for improved okra production through the use of these priming methods
Menace of Tomato Leaf Miner (Tuta absoluta [Meyrick,1917]): Its Impacts and Control Measures by Nepalese Farmers
Get PDFA multi-site study was conducted in Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Kavre, and Pokhara, Nepal, to assess the impact of Tuta absoluta and identify effective control measures from the farmers\u27 perspective. A total of 480 tomato-growing households were randomly selected for the study. The pest posed a significant threat to tomato production, resulting in increased labor requirements (29.96%), increased expenditures on crop protection and control measures (62.18%), and significant yield losses of up to 85%. The results showed that the pest was ranked as the most important pest of tomatoes by the majority of respondents (88%), with the flowering stage being highly susceptible (99.73%). The study highlighted that the overuse of chemical pesticides disrupts integrated pest management practices, while all the respondents affected by T. absoluta used chemical and cultural control methods without using biological control methods due to a lack of knowledge. About 77.27% of the respondents used physical control methods. Among the control methods used, tomato leaf miner (TLM) bait (0.764) was rated as the most effective, followed by chemical pesticides (0.586) and sanitation (0.502). The research highlights the importance of raising awareness of integrated pest management strategies, including the use of biological control methods, for effective and sustainable management of T. absoluta. These findings will help improve pest management practices and support the long-term sustainability of tomato production in Nepal
Development of a Solar-Powered Integrated Wireless Soil Moisture Meter
Get PDFIn this study, we developed a solar-powered integrated wireless soil moisture meter that can easily measure in situ soil moisture, soil temperature, and hydrogen potential (pH) using nature\u27s solar energy. Knowledge of soil moisture content and other relevant soil-specific parameters is essential for irrigation scheduling, fertilizer selection, and fertigation. Also, considering that the electricity supply in some developing countries is either erratic or unavailable, this research aims to bridge the gap in electricity availability and ease of measurement and integrate more soil-specific parameters. The sensor system was developed using the frequency domain (FD) technique for fast response. These parameters were measured sequentially at an interval of about 5 seconds, with the readings displayed simultaneously on a Bluetooth-connected device (e.g., an Android phone) located about 50 meters away from the developed system. The different sensors are classified and adequately labeled to identify the parameter to be measured. The performance evaluation carried out indicated a reasonably functioning device that is cost-effective. The results obtained showed that the system was resourceful as it not only measured the parameters of interest (soil moisture, temperature, and pH) but also gave a prompt response in measurement and transmission. Overall, the developed wireless soil moisture meter provides instantaneous data on pH, moisture, and temperature circulation across soil layers. The system is promising as it can be integrated into large-scale automated irrigation systems for agricultural lands
Yield Performance Evaluation of Thirty Spring Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Cultivars Under Terminal Drought Conditions Using Various Drought-Tolerant Indices
Get PDFAn experiment was conducted from February 19, 2022, to July 4, 2022, in the farmer\u27s field of Itahari Sub-metropolitan city in Nepal under well water and drought conditions to screen thirty drought-tolerant spring rice (Oryza sativa L.) genotypes using various drought tolerant indices for its cultivation under rainfed and drought areas. Analysis of variance revealed that grain yield under both conditions were significantly different and yield under well-watered condition was higher than yield under drought condition. The greater value of tolerance index (TOL) was reported in Chaite-2 and IR-80991-B330-0-2 and the minimum value of TOL was reported in IRE16L1661 and IR16L1004. The lowest value of stress susceptibility index (SSI) was reported in IRE16L1661, the maximum value of yield susceptibility index (YSI) was reported in IRE16L1661, and the maximum values of mean productivity index (MP), geometrical mean productivity (GMP), and stress tolerance index (STI) were reported in IRE 1621661. Correlation analysis revealed that the high-yielding genotype under well-watered conditions also yielded higher under-stress conditions. For grain yield, analysis of variance and principal component analysis revealed that IRE 1621661 is suitable for both conditions and genotype IRE16L1661 is stable under drought conditions based on drought tolerance indices. Thus, these two genotypes can be recommended under drought stress in the inner plains of Nepal with appropriate agronomic practices
Influence of Gibberellic Acid and Mulch Materials on Yield and Biochemical Attributes of Strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) cv. Festival
Get PDFOne of the most important factors in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa) cv. Festival production for achieving higher yields is the availability of strawberries with better quality. The experiment was carried out during the period from November 2020 to March 2021 to find out the responses of gibberellic acid (GA3) and mulch materials on biochemical and quality attributes related to strawberry yield characteristics. The experiment consisted of two treatments including different mulch materials: black polythene, white polythene, sawdust, and control (no mulch); and GA3 (0 and 200 mg/L) were studied. Various quality parameters, namely total soluble solids (TSS), pH, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid, total sugar, phenolic, and anthocyanin content of the strawberries were determined. The results observed in the GA3-treated plants showed more significant results than the plants not treated with GA3. Among the mulch materials, sawdust performed better than the other mulch materials in terms of yield, biochemical, and quality attributes. The highest fruit set percentage (89) and fruit yield (18.70 t/ha) were obtained from the GA3 and sawdust mulch treatments. GA3 and sawdust mulch performed best in terms of quality parameters including TSS, pH, ascorbic acid, total sugar, phenolic, and anthocyanin content. Accordingly, sawdust and GA3 are more responsive to strawberry plant quality parameters. These findings provide practical insights for sustainable strawberry cultivation practices, contributing to increased fruit availability and improved nutritional value for consumers
Understanding the Transcription Factor Mediated Regulatory Mechanism Towards Abiotic Stress Response in Cereal Crops
Get PDFCereal crops are critical to global food security and are valued for their adaptability and nutritional value. However, they are increasingly threatened by abiotic stresses such as water scarcity, high soil salinity, severe climatic conditions, and nutrient deficiencies. This review focuses on the central role of transcription factors (TFs) in the response of cereal crops to these environmental challenges. TFs, such as the DREB family, the bZIP family, and the WRKY family, emerge as central players in this intricate regulatory network. They initiate or inhibit the activation of stress-responsive genes by binding to specific cis-regulatory elements located in gene promoters and enhance the resilience of cereal crops to various abiotic stresses. For example, DREB1/CBF TFs alleviate cold stress, NAM, ATAF1/2, and CUC2 (NAC) factors combat salinity stress, and WRKY TFs modulate responses to drought, salinity, and cold stress by initiating vital physiological processes, including osmotic regulation, antioxidant defense, and ion homeostasis, ultimately promoting stress tolerance. Genetic engineering strategies that overexpress these stress-responsive genes and TFs hold great promise for enhancing crop resilience and productivity in the face of climate change. In addition, this review also emphasizes the potential of epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation and histone modifications, to fine-tune the control of genes that respond to abiotic stresses. These findings benefit agriculture by addressing global food security challenges
Integrated Approach for Bioethanol and Paper Production using Populus deltoides Wood Biomass: An Experimental Study
Get PDFLignocellulosic materials contain two major sugar macromolecules, cellulose and hemicellulose, and polyphenolic lignin. During pulping, lignin and hemicellulose are broken down into smaller molecules such as organic acids, and removed in the black liquor, leaving cellulose fibers for papermaking. Lignocellulose consists of approximately 28–35% hemicelluloses, which are lost during the pulping process in black liquor and are an important source of sugars that can be used to produce bioethanol as a liquid fuel. The hemicellulosic sugars from the Populus deltoides (poplar) lignocellulosic biomass were partially extracted keeping in mind that it does not affect the properties of paper beyond acceptable limits, further converting these extracted sugars by fermentation to bioethanol, followed by pulping the residual biomass and papermaking and determining pulping and papermaking properties. With the increasing demand for lignocellulosic biomass by various industries, an integrated biorefinery approach for maximum utilization of its chemical components with minimum degradation is necessary in the future. The maximum bioethanol yield was found to be 3.58 g/L. On manufactured paper sheets, the mechanical properties tensile index and tear index of pre-extracted biomass were observed as 19.23 Nm/g and 3.5 mNm2/g and slightly lower against the control 21.34 Nm/g and 4.0 mNm2/g. The main objective of the present study is to recover reducing sugars before the pulping process for bioethanol production and to further utilize the remaining residue for papermaking without disturbing its fiber integrity
Effect of Triazole and Strobilurin Fungicide Against Alternaria Leaf and Pod Blight (Alternaria raphani) in Radish (Raphanus sativus var. Mino Early)
Get PDFA field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of Triazole and Strobilurin fungicides on Alternaria leaf and pod blight (Alternaria raphani) of radish (Raphanus sativus var. Mino Early). The experiment lasted from November 2021 to March 2022 following a completely randomized block design (RCBD) with three replications. Seven treatments were evaluated, including T1 (Propiconazole 25% EC), T2 (Tebuconazole 25% WDG), T3 (Azoxystrobin 23% SC), T4 (Propiconazole 13.9% + Difenoconazole 13.9% EC), T5 (Azoxystrobin 11% + Tebuconazole 18.3% SC), T6 (Tebuconazole 50% + Trifloxystrobin 25% WP), and T7 (control). Analysis of the data showed that T4 had the lowest disease severity in radish leaves with a mean value of 22.67±1.76. T1 followed closely with a mean disease severity of 27.11±1.16, while T3 had a mean severity of 29.67±1.73. Regarding pod infection, T4 also showed the most effective control with a mean infection level of 17.56±1.76. This was followed by T1 with a mean infection level of 19.78±1.16 and T3 with a mean infection level of 21.33±1.73. Overall, the results indicate that the application of T4 (Propiconazole 13.9% + Difenoconazole 13.9% EC) significantly reduced disease severity in both radish leaves and pods, demonstrating its efficacy in managing Alternaria leaf and pod blight. These results suggest that T4 may be a suitable fungicide treatment option for the control of Alternaria blight in radish crops. Further research and field trials are required to validate these results and to investigate the long-term effects of treatments on radish growth, yield, and quality