Prevalence of Aflatoxin B1 and B2 in Poultary Feed

A total of 65 poultry feed samples were examined for the detection of aflatoxin (aflatoxin B1 and aflatoxin B2) using thin layer chromatography (TLC). Samples were collected from Chitwan and Kavrepalanchock districts. Out of those samples examined a total of 49 (75.38%) samples were found positive. Out of 49 (75.38%) samples positive, 42 (85.71%) samples were found positive both with aflatoxin B1 and B2 where as five (10.20%) samples were positive only with aflatoxin B1 and two (4.08%) samples were positive only with aflatoxin B2. Among them 13 (20%) samples were found positive having aflatoxin above permissible level. The concentration of aflatoxin in positive samples ranged from trace to 366 ppb (366 μg/kg). Likewise, out of 52 samples examined in rainy season, 40 samples (76.92%) were found positive where as out of 13 samples examined in winter season 9 (69.23%) were found positive.Nepal Agric. Res. J. Vol. 9, 2009, pp. 109-112DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/narj.v9i0.11648

Controlling Foliar Blight of Wheat through Nutrient Management and Varietal Selection

Helminthosporium leaf blight, a complex of spot blotch caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana and tan spot caused by Pyrenophora tritici-repentis, is one of the most important foliar diseases of wheat in Nepal. It appears in almost all wheat growing areas and causes severe yield loss every year. A study was conducted at Regional Agriculture Research Station (RARS), Tarahara, Sunsari during 2004-05 and 2005-06 wheat growing seasons to elucidate role of nitrogen in wheat genotypes for management of the disease. Field experiment was laid out on split plot design with three replications. Four doses of nitrogen in six different promising genotypes were tested. Nitrogen levels higher than 50 kg ha-1 significantly reduced disease severity and increased grain yield in all genotypes but there was no significant differences in grain yield in the first year. In the second year, grain yield difference among the genotypes was significant. Area under disease progress curve(AUDPC) was not significant between two doses 100 and 150 kg ha-1. The wheat genotypes showed different reactions to disease. Genotype BL 2047 had the lowest incidence of disease followed by BL 1887, whereas BL 2217 had the highest incidence of the disease. Genotype BL 2196 produced the highest grain yield (2172 kg ha-1) and the lowest grain yield was obtained in Bhrikuti followed by BL 2089. These results suggested that fertilizer should be applied in soil at balanced dose 100:50:50 N:P2O5:K2O kg ha-1. Growing relatively resistant genotypes with the balance dose of fertilizers can reduce foliar blight severity in wheat.Nepal Agric. Res. J. Vol. 9, 2009, pp. 85-93DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/narj.v9i0.11645

Digestibility of Ficus roxburghii, Castanopsis indica and Ficus cunia on Growing Buffalo from Western Hills of Nepal

Nine buffalo calves were subjected to three fodder tree species namely; Nimaro (Ficus roxburghii), Dhalne Katus (Castanopsis indica) and Rai Khanyu (Ficus cunia) for digestibility trial during November 27 and December 3, 2005 in Regional Agricultural Research Station, Lumle, Kaski, Nepal. Animals were kept 7 days for adaptation for these fodders. Weighed amount of fodder tree leaves including twigs and small branches were fed two times a day and observation on fodder offered, refused and faeces voided were recorded daily. Chemical composition of fresh matter and faeces voided were carried out for dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), lignin, calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P). The mean DM content and their dry matter digestibility (DMD) of these three fodder tree species were found 27.86, 46.02, 34.72, 73.21, 65.93 and 71.28 percent, respectively. Strong negative correlations (r=-0.75 to –0.78; p<0.05) were observed between Ca and CP with fiber fraction (NDF and ADF). A weak correlation was also observed between P and other constituents with respect to digestibility. From the results, if there could be provision of low fiber content in dry season, the three main nutrients (Ca, P and CP) may easily be absorbed by the animals.Nepal Agric. Res. J. Vol. 9, 2009, pp. 94-98DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/narj.v9i0.11646

Use of Ethephone and Indigenous Plant Materials in Ripening Banana in Winter

Post-harvest handling of banana is a crucial activity to get good quality fruit to the consumers. A post-harvest study on ripening of banana was carried out at Regional Agriculture Research Station, Khajura during winter season of 2005 to find out the effect of different materials in ripening of banana and study about shelf-life period. Dipping fruits in Kripone 2.56 ml per liter of water (ethephone 1000 ppm) for five minutes was found effective for banana ripening. Those fruits treated with ethephone 1000 ppm started to soften in three days and became ready to consume in five days with shelf-life of eight days. Fruits treated with 'Asuro' (Adhatoda vesica) started to become soft in five days where as fruits treated with 'Koiralo' (Bahunia veriagata) became soft in four days. By using these indigenous plant materials, we can prolong shelf-life of fruit by 2-3 days more than the Kripone-treated fruits. Use of ripe banana fruit also found effective to hasten ripening the banana with excellent taste. However, the shelf-life was relatively short (8 days). It is difficult to ripen the banana in winter without using any ripening materials. In untreated control, only 33% fruits started to become soft after 7-9 days of storage and were ready to consume in nine days. Rest 66% fruits were remain as such up to 11 days then after fruit started uneven softening ie some portion became soft and other portion remained hard. After 14 days fruits became black without softening and got spoiled. Overall percent weight loss was found 6.0 to 10.7 from initial to end of shelf-life period.Nepal Agric. Res. J. Vol. 9, 2009, pp. 113-117DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/narj.v9i0.11649

An Empirical Analysis of Resource Productivity of Wheat in Eastern Tarai Region of Nepal

Different types of resource conservation technology (RCT) in wheat cultivation have been recently introduced and use of seed cum fertilizer zero till drill machine is one of them which was used in eastern terai region in wheat season of 2006/2007. A survey was carried out to study the productivity of wheat and compare the production between traditional and RCT method of cultivation. Altogether 31 farmers were interviewed with semi-structured questionnaires. Model used to estimate the productivity for both the methods was significant (p < 0.01) which explained 96 and 97 per cent variation due to independent variables under study in wheat production of traditional and RCT method, respectively. Farmers used 160 kg seed/ha in traditional method while in RCT method it was 122 kg/ha. Similarly, they applied 148 and 137 kg nutrients as a total of nitrogen, phosphorus and potash in traditional and RCT method, respectively. Average production of wheat grain in traditional and RCT method was 2456 and 2714 kg/ha giving average gross margin of Rs 16750.00 and Rs 23301.00/ha, respectively. This revealed 10 per cent reduction in total costs and 29 per cent increase in return by RCT method.Nepal Agric. Res. J. Vol. 9, 2009, pp. 99-108DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/narj.v9i0.11647

Hybridization Technique in Tartary Buckwheat (Fagopyrum tataricum Gaertn)

N/ANepal Agric. Res. J. Vol. 9, 2009, pp. 118-128DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/narj.v9i0.11650

Soil Fertility under Improved and Conventional Management Practices in Sanga, Kavrepalanchowk District, Nepal

A study was carried out to compare the fertility of soils under improved soil management practice with that of prevailing conventional practice and to assess the farmers’ perception on the improved practice in the upland farming system. The study was carried out in Nasikasthan Sanga of Kavrepalanchok district of Nepal. Soil samples were collected from fields under improved conventional practice. Samples were taken at 0-15 and 15-30 cm depths and were analyzed for various physico-chemical properties to compare the fertility status of the soils under both the practices. Altogether 68 farmers were interviewed to have information on farming practices and information pertinent to improved soil management practice being adopted by them. Results from soil physico-chemical analysis showed higher fertility of soils under improved practice in terms of more favorable pH level, contents of exchangeable bases, available phosphorus and soil organic matter compared to prevailing conventional soil management practice. Moreover, majority of the farmers believed that soil fertility and physical condition of their upland soils had improved and that the productivity of major upland crops had also increased after the adoption of improved soil management practice. Improved practice could play an important role in the sustainable management of upland soils in the mid hills of Nepal. It is however, desirable to conduct long-term research to further ascertain the effect of the practice on soil fertility of different soil types and land uses.Nepal Agric. Res. J. Vol. 9, 2009, pp. 27-39DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/narj.v9i0.11639

Participatory Crop Improvement of Nepalese Fingermillet Cultivars

A field study was undertaken on Nepalese fingermillet genotypes with the participation of the local community at pipaltar of nuwakot district during 2003 and 2004. The study included a) identification of superior fingermillet cultivars through diversity block management and mother set trial, b) seed Production of promising lines, c) farmers' field verification trial (diamond trial) And d) characterization and documentation of fingermillet genotypes. Results Revealed that mudke, chaure and jalbire are high yielding promising genotypes Suited to that area. From household surveys carried out among 46 samples (40%), 80 hh have revealed that mudke, chaure and seto kodo are preferred fingermillet cultivars. About 70% grow mudke, 46% grow chaure while 2% Grow Seto Kodo. The programme has successfully explored the potential of Local fingermillet cultivars by there evaluation and utilized them through Value added product development and market promotion. Nepal Agric. Res. J. Vol. 9, 2009, pp. 12-16 DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/narj.v9i0.11636

Impact of Mulching on Wheat Yield and Weed Floras in the Mid-hills of Nepal

Studies on the effect of mulching and weed management strategies in wheat were initiated at Khumaltar during the winter season of 2000-2002. The treatments were weedy check, handweed alone, post emergence application of sulfosufuron, and NPK application together with or without mulching. Rice straw mulch was applied at the rate of 4 t/ha. Phalaris minor, Alopecuros sp., Chenopodium album, Rumex crispus, Polygonum hydropiper, Stellaria media, Cannabis sativa, and Soliva anthemifolia were the dominant species. Among them, C. album, P. minor and Alopecuros aqualis were the dominant species. The effect of mulching was seen six weeks after wheat planting. The weedy check with mulch suppressed the weeds about fifty percent compared to that of without mulching. Wheat yields together with yield attributing characters were also higher in the treatments with straw mulch.Nepal Agric. Res. J. Vol. 9, 2009, pp. 21-26DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/narj.v9i0.11638

Wheat Production under Long-term Application of Inorganic and Organic Fertilizers in Rice-Wheat System under Rainfed Conditions

Under rainfed rice-wheat cropping system, experiments were conducted on wheat variety Annapurna-2 from 1998 to 2002 to study the effect of continuous application of inorganic and organic fertilizers in longer run on wheat production and soil properties in alluvial soil of Khumaltar, Lalitpur at 1365 msal. Eleven different fertilizers combinations comprised of inorganic and organic fertilizers were used. The results of the five-year experiment indicate that the applications of optimal level of inorganic fertilizers could supply the plant nutrients to wheat crop to produce sustainable yield. On the other hand, organic fertilizers could help to increase the crop yield and maintain soil fertility at the same time. Residual effect of available phosphorus applied in previous rice crop had significant response on wheat yield. For maintaining soil fertility, application of FYM and incorporation of crop residue into soil are worth practicable.Nepal Agric. Res. J. Vol. 9, 2009, pp. 40-48DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/narj.v9i0.11640