Influence of Mother Rhizome Retrieval and Organic Treatment of the Retrieved Plants on Economic Yield of Ginger at Salyan, Nepal

An experiment was conducted at Salyan, Nepal to assess the mother rhizome retrieval and organic treatment of the same retrieved plant on economic yield of ginger during 2015/16.‘ Kapurkot Aduwa-1’, a superior Nepalese variety was used for this experiment. Two dates i.e. 1 September and 7 September were used as a time of retrieval factor and seven organic treatments i.e. Trichoderma, Jeevatu, Bordeaux paste, mixture of neem and timur dust, vermicompost, jholmal and control as second factor and these 14 treatment combinations were laid out in factorial randomized block design with three replications. The plant height, leaf number, tiller number was found to be significantly highest with vermicompost treatment on all days 5 days interval after harvesting of the mother rhizome whereas the lowest was observed at control. The mother rhizome yield and fresh rhizome was found to be significantly highest on vermicompost applied field with 1.7 t/ha and 22.8 mt/ha respectively and lowest fresh rhizome yield (15.5. t/ha) was found with control. The disease yield was significantly lowest (0 t/ha) and highest (0.2 t/ha) with the control. Benefit cost ratio was found to be significantly highest (1.74) and lowest at control (1.32).

Intervention of Climate Smart Agriculture Practices in Farmers Field to Increase Production and Productivity of Winter Maize in Terai Region of Nepal

Climate change has been the burning issue in agriculture sector. The research world is focused on developing appropriate technology, innovations and concept to cope up this change. The Climate Smart Agriculture [CSA] has been adapted globally for cultivation and crop management in changing context without compromising yield and productivity. The CSA involves wide range altered techniques and innovations like using resilient varieties, water management, zero tillage, legumes incorporation, cover cropping, site specific fertilizer management, variation in planting date etc. Grounding on the similar practices and principles of CSA, the research in maize was conducted in 2014 in farmers' field of Eastern Nepal. Three progressive farmers with 1 hector of land were selected and Maize was cultivated using Zero tillage seed cum fertilizer driller tractor. This field experiment considers farmers as replication with six different treatments. All treatments differ to each other based on nutrient management, water management, residue management, tillage practice, crop establishment, and inclusion of legumes in the cropping system. Six treatments are coded as follows: Current Irrigated (CI), Improved Irrigated Low (IIL), Improved Irrigated High (IIH), Climate Smart Agriculture-Low (CSA-L), Climate Smart Agriculture-Medium (CSA-M), and Climate Smart Agriculture-High (CSA-H). Significant impact of intervention was observed in yield and yield attributes in the trial with climate smart agriculture practices than in conventional practices of farmers. Plant density, ear number, filled grains per cob and grain yield was substantially higher in climate smart practices revealing CSA to be the appropriate technology to minimize potential loss of climate change.

Diversity of Weeds and Population Dynamics of Predators and Prey Present in Wheat-Mustard Ecosystem at Paklihawa, Rupandehi, Nepal

A study was conducted at Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS), Paklihawa Rupandehi, agronomy field to study the diversity of weeds and population dynamics of predators and prey in wheat-mustard ecosystem. The study was conducted by quadrate sampling method using the wooden frame by selecting 40 sample spots, and locating its coordinates. Predator, prey, some of the beneficial and harmful insects as well as weed species was recorded in 5 days interval in the study. Relationships between the population of the mustard aphid and wheat aphid, lady bird beetle to maximum and minimum temperature were recorded in order to know the effect of temperature in relation to population density. Number of mustard aphid and its nymph has shown the positive significant relationship with the population of the spider in the wheat mustard ecosystem. Shannon Weiner Index value was calculated and the species richness was found to be 2.63 with the effective number of species value 9. The species evenness value was found to be 0.83 in the studied ecosystem which signifies that the given weed ecosystem is somewhat even. The importance value index (IVI) of the given ecosystem with the value of different weed species was calculated and it was found that the weed Anagalis arvensis was ranked as first with the IVI value of 57.98 following Vicia sativa and Chenopodium album. This signifies that the species Anagalis arvensis has greater control over the wheat mustard ecosystem of Paklihawa, Rupandehi.

Overview of Seasonal Prevalence of Liver Fluke & Rumen Fluke Infestation in Cattle and Buffalo of Western Chitwan, Nepal

Fluke infestation in domestic animals is one of the major problems of farmers in tropical condition of Chitwan. A prospective study was done in western Chitwan, Bharatpur Metropolitan City, ward 26 &16, Nepal in two different seasons-summer and winter to describe the seasonal prevalence of fluke infestation in dairy cattle and buffalo. Sedimentation technique of faecal examination was performed to recover the parasite eggs. In the study, the prevalence of fluke infestation was found to be higher in the summer (26%) than in winter (22%). Similarly, among cattle Jersey cross (39.5%) showed the highest infestation of flukes among the breeds followed by Jersey (12.5%), among the buffalo breed the rate of infestation was found higher in Murrah cross (21.4%) followed by local (20.0%). No Murrah breed in the study were positive for GI parasite. In the study carried out in 38 calf, 7 heifer and 55 mother the faecal examination for fluke egg was positive 26.3% of calves, 28.6% of heifers and 21.8% of mothers respectively. Out of 43 buffalo and 57 cattle the parasitic infestation was found in 18.6% and 28.1% of sample respectively. Although cattle were seen more susceptible to flukes, the relation was not statistically significant. The study shows that the fluke infestation may be producing subsequent production loss due to its high prevalence in dairy cattle and buffalo.

Impact of Initial Environmental Conditions on Germination, Growth, and Development of Cucumis Sativus at Lamjung

Cucumber is the fourth most important vegetable crop worldwide favored for its edible fruit. Cucumber cannot be grown in the winter months due to its intolerance to cold and frost. An experiment was conducted in IAAS, Lamjung to test the effectiveness of various nursery raising conditions for achieving earlier harvest in spring. Three treatments viz. cold frame, hotbed, and open were selected and replicated 30 times each. Data on germination speed, germination percentage, true leaf initiation, plant height, tendril initiation, days to first flowering, days to harvesting, length and diameter of fruit and fruit yield were recorded. Hotbed achieved earlier germination (8 days) followed by cold frames (8.57 days) and open (12.73 days) respectively with cold frame having the highest germination percentage (98%) followed by a hotbed (96%) and open (90%). True leaf initiation was earlier in a cold frame (21.5 days), followed by hot bed (22.83 days) and open (30.97 days). Transplanting of cold frame and hotbed seedlings could be performed 10 days prior to open. Final height attained was significantly maximum for cold-frame plants (97.93 cm) and minimum for a hotbed (76.19 cm) with open being indifferent (86.17 cm) to cold frame and hotbed. Days to tendril initiation, days to flowering and days to first harvest were 57.52, 66.87 and 82.93 days respectively for cold-frame which was significantly minimum compared to hotbed (64.04, 70.38 and 86.95 days) and open (65.73, 71.23, 85.58 days), both being indifferent. Significantly maximum yield was obtained from cold-frame (1465.73 g) with open yielding significantly minimum (1004.06 g) and hotbed being indifferent (1122.45 g) to cold frame and open. Cold-frames are found to be comparatively effective to hotbed and open condition with 3.12 days earlier and 35% higher yield.

Determination of Indigenous Nutrient Supplying Capacity of Soil Through Omission Plot Experiment for Wheat in Western Terai of Nepal

The field experiment was conducted to estimate the native nutrient supplying capacity of soil in western terai of Nepal during 2013/14 and 2014/15. The experimental site consisted three areas: Pakadi VDC ward no.-3, Barrohiya of Kapilvastu district; Ramgram municipality ward no.-1, Sanda of Nawalparasi district and Tukuligadh VDC ward no.-1, Rehara of Rupandehi district. The indigenous nutrients supplying capacity of the soil was determined by establishing omission plots for wheat cultivation with six treatments each of 50 m2 and 4 farmers from each site was taken assuming one farmer as one replication. Among the six treatments, -N, -P, -K, –Zn and –B were set to estimate the inherent N, P, K, Zn and B supplying capacity of soil respectively. From two years of experiment, it has been clear that inherent N and K supplying capacity of soil in selected areas is very low. The highest grain yield of 3.33 t/ha and 2.75 t/ha was measured from fully fertilized plots in 2013/14 and 2014/15 respectively and the lowest grain yield of wheat was obtained from nitrogen missing plots in both years (1.74 t/ha and 1.51 ton/ha) followed by potassium missing plots (1.74t/ha). Farmers manage their field in a different way, so large variation was seen even in small area. Nitrogen was found to be most limiting nutrient for wheat growth followed by potassium and phosphorous in all sites. Therefore, use of optimum dose of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium should be used for efficient nutrient uptake which ultimately increases wheat productivity.

Factors Affecting Adoption of Maize Varieties in Nepal

This study examined status of adoption of improved maize varieties in Nepal. Six hundred eighty two households were sampled from six districts namely Sindhupalchowk, Lalitpur, Khotang, Dang, Chitwan and Dadeldhura. Data was analyzed through descriptive statistics. The results indicated that the slow growth rate of area, production and yield was around 2.7% p.a. and growth rate is moreover stagnant rate from 1990-2015. Adoption of modern variety was found to be 75% of household. Mean area of maize cultivation in Nepal is 0.431 ha/HH. Only seven improved variety were adopted in large scale and they were adopted in 70.60% of maize cultivating areas. Improved variety Rampur composite, Mankamana-3 and Deuti and Hybrid CP 808 were found to be highly adopted. While CP 808, Shrestha and Rajkumar hybrids were dominating hybrids. Age of household head, Caste, Migration, credit accessibility, cooperative involvement, extension visit, training, formal sector seed availability and knowledge about agricultural insurance were found positive factors affecting adoption of modern variety of maize. However education and livestock numbers found negatively contribute to adoption.

Effect of Preceding Winter Crops and Residue Management on Growth Performance, Weed, Nutrient Uptake and Economics of Clusterbean (Cyamopsis Tetragonoloba L. Taub.] Under Zero-Till Semi-Arid Condition

Field experiments under zero-till rainfed ecosystem were conducted during 2010-11 and 2011-12 at Indian Agricultural Research Institutive New Delhi for identifying the agronomic performance, weed dynamics, nutrient uptake and profitability of clusterbean based cropping systems (clusterbean-wheat, clusterbean-mustard and clusterbean-chickpea) as influenced by three residue management practices (no residue, crop residues and Leucaena twigs) applied to both summer and winter seasonal crops. Randomized Complete Block Design with four replications were used to conduct the trials. Significantly higher green-pod yield of clusterbean (10.08 t ha-1 and 6.70 t ha-1) was recorded with the application of Leucaena twigs, followed by crop residue mulching and the least with no-residue application in 2010 and 2011, respectively. Wheat and chickpea as preceding crops produced significantly higher clusterbean green-pod yield (6.54 t ha-1 and 6.43 t ha-1) than mustard (5.18 t ha-1). The yield attributes viz. pod-clusters and weight of pods per plant showed significant variation. Significantly higher dry matter yield (299.9 g m-2) of Cyperus iria was recorded with mustard residues followed by chickpea (253.1 g m-2) and wheat (194.0 g m-2) residues. The nutrient uptake showed the same trend as that of dry pod and stalks yields and resulted significant influence due to residue management and preceding crops. Economic analysis exhibited the highest returns and net returns per Rupee invested under wheat with Leucaena twigs followed by chickpea with Leucaena twigs. Clusterbean after wheat and chickpea with Leucaena twigs was high yielding and profitable for rainfed areas under zero-till semi-arid condition.

Species Composition of Leaf Footed Bugs (Coreidae: Hemiptera) in Hilly Regions of Nepal

A survey of leaf footed bugs (Hemiptera: Coreidae) was conducted in two hilly districts of Nepal viz. Lamjung and Kaski, over a period of 13 months (April 2017-May 2018). The prime purpose of the research was to find out the Coreidae diversity in these regions which hasn’t been done before. Sundarbazar, Kunchha and Dura Daanda areas from Lamjung and Hemja and Sarangkot from Kaski were explored. A total of 111 specimens of Coreidae were collected from altitude varying from 700-1600 masl. Eleven different species of these bugs from 1 subfamily, 7 tribes and 7 genera were recorded. All the species fell under single subfamily Coreinae Leach, 1815. One species, Acanthocoris scabrator (Fabricius, 1803) fell under the tribe Acanthocorini Bergroth, one species, Leptoglossus gonagra (Fabricius, 1775) fell under tribe Anisoscelini Laporte, one, Cloresmus khasianus (Distant, 1901) under Cloresmini (Stal) and one, Dalader acuticosta (Amyot & Serville, 1843) under Daladerini Stal. Similarly, 3 species viz. Cletus bipunctatus (Herrich-Schäffer, 1840), Cletus pygophorus (Gupta & Singh, 2013) and Cletus trigonus (Thunberg, 1783) fell under the tribe Gonocerini Mulsant and Rey. Likewise, 3 species were found under the tribe Homoeocerini Amyot and Serville viz. Homoeocerus (Anacanthocoris) striicornis (Scott, 1874), Homoeocerus (Anacanthocoris) sp. and Homoeocerus (Tliponius) unipunctatus (Thunberg, 1783) and 1 species, Anoplocnemis phasianus (Fabricius, 1781) was found under Mictini Amyot and Serville.

Effects of Different Concentrations of Sucrose on Vase Life of Rose (Rosa sps.cv. Dutch Hybrid)

Keeping quality is an important parameter for evaluation of rose cut flower quality, both in export and domestic markets as fresh cut rose flowers are highly perishable due to limited water uptake and low available energy. Carbohydrate is the main food source to maintain the energy requirement for flowers .An experiment was conducted at Horticulture Laboratory of Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Lamjung, Nepal on January 2017 in order to find out best concentration of sucrose that enhances and prolongs the better flower quality and longevity. Experiment was laid out with 10 treatments viz. tap water, tap water + 2% sucrose, tap water + 4% sucrose, tap water + 6% sucrose, tap water + 8% sucrose, distilled water, distilled water + 2% sucrose, distilled water + 4% sucrose, distilled water + 6% sucrose and distilled water + 8% sucrose under completely randomized design with three replications. Rose sticks were harvested at flower bud stage and two sticks were kept in each vase solution. Effect of different concentrations of sucrose solution on water uptake, weight gain or loss, neck bending, flower diameter, days to full bloom and vase life was affected significantly. The rose flower held in distilled water + 6% Sucrose was recorded to have higher value (7.77cm) for flower diameter at 10 days followed by Tap water + 6% Sucrose with value 7.62cm. Similarly, lower flower diameter (2.29cm) was observed in Tap water at Day16 followed by Distilled water with value 3.21cm. Similar pattern was observed in all other parameters having highest vase life (19.5 days) in Distilled water + 6% Sucrose and lowest (15.17 days) in tap water only. Among different concentrations of sucrose solution, distilled water + 6% sucrose was found highly effective for longevity of cultivar.