Nepal Agricultural Research Council Research Articles

Farming systems research in Nepal: Concepts, design, and methodology for enhancing agricultural productivity and sustainability

Farming Systems Research (FSR) plays a crucial role in enhancing agricultural productivity, sustainability, and livelihoods in Nepal. This article provides a comprehensive review of FSR in Nepal, focusing on concepts, design, and methodology for optimizing farming systems. Integrated farming systems have emerged as a key strategy for small and marginal farmers to improve livelihood security and meet household needs for nutrition and income. By integrating various components such as crops, livestock, and agroforestry, farmers can enhance resource use efficiency, diversify income sources, and improve resilience to climate change impacts. FSR in Nepal combines scientific research, community engagement, and local knowledge to enhance agricultural sustainability and improve livelihoods for small-scale farmers. Nepal Agriculture Research Council (NARC) plays a crucial role in developing a national research agenda and allocating resources to address the diverse technological needs of farmers. By integrating diverse perspectives, utilizing innovative technologies, and engaging stakeholders, FSR addresses agricultural system complexities and contributes to food security, environmental sustainability, and rural development.

Comparative analysis of knowledge and management practices of insect pests of maize among IPM adopters and non-adopters in Sindhupalchok, Nepal

Integrated pest management (IPM) is a decision-based approach that involves optimizing the pest population below the economic threshold by the coordinated use of multiple tactics in an economically and environmentally sound manner. The adoption of IPM in farming practices prevents long-term pest damage by combining biological control, modification of cultural practices, habitual manipulation, and use of resistant varieties. In Nepal, mostly in hilly regions, haphazard chemical pesticide application has inevitable effects on human health, the environment, and the ecosystem. The haphazard chemical pesticide application in Sindhupalchok, Nepal originated mostly due to a knowledge gap in the identification of the stages of the lifecycle of pests, and the distinction between beneficial and harmful insects. To compare the effectiveness of management practices between IPM adopters and non-adopters this study was framed for six months in Sangachokgadi municipality, Sindhupalchok, Nepal. The knowledge gap among the maize growers in Sindhupalchok was assessed using both primary and secondary data collection methods. For primary data collection a comprehensive and structured questionnaire, face-to-face interview, phone call interview, and Key Informant Interview was conducted. Similarly, secondary data was collected from various articles and publications from Maize Zone, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD), Nepal Agriculture Research Council (NARC), and National Maize Research Program (NMRP). The collected data were then analyzed (descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and indexing) by using computer software packages i.e., Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 26, and Microsoft Excel 2010. The analyzed data revealed maize growers adopting IPM practices for crop management are known to have significantly better knowledge of the life cycle of pests, were able to distinguish between beneficial and harmful insects, and had knowledge of appropriate fertilizer doses. Further, the findings revealed IPM adopters had better knowledge of chemical pesticide handling which could minimize the chemical hazards among the farmers.

Impact of terminal heat stress on performance of Nepalese wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) genotypes

Heat stress has been a major abiotic stress that has been a key factor for poor production and the productivity of wheat. To understand the impact of heat stress and to evaluate the performance and stability of elite wheat genotypes under irrigated and heat stress environment, a field experiment was conducted under Alpha lattice design at the Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Bhairahawa, Rupandehi, Nepal from 2019-2023 comprising 20 elite wheat genotypes collected from Nepal Agriculture Research Council. The combined analysis of variance showed, heat stress had the significant impact on all the traits evaluated with a 29% yield reduction under heat stress condition as compared to irrigated. NL 1368 (21.5%) and NL 1386 (41.4%) had the least and highest yield reduction under heat stress environment as compared to irrigated. BL 4919 was the highest yielding wheat genotype under both irrigated (4287.9 kg/ha) and heat stress environment (2905.4 kg/ha). WWW model revealed, NL 1387 was the most stable wheat genotypes while BL 4919 and NL 1350 were the most adaptable genotypes under irrigated and heat stress environment. Hence, these selected adaptive and stable genotypes should be promoted in the wheat improvement program as a parent material for heat stress breeding.

Post-Harvest and Sensory Quality Performance of Open Pollinated Cauliflower Cultivars for Mid-season at Dang District of Nepal

The study was conducted at Tulsipur, Dang, Nepal for two years (2021 and 2022 A.D.) to assess the postharvest quality performance of open pollinated (OP) cauliflower curd. Five OP cauliflower cultivars viz. Kathmandu Local, Khumal Jyapu, Agheni, Terai-1 and Terai-2 (seed sourced from Nepal Agriculture Research Council, Khumaltar, Lalitpur) were replicated four times in Randomized Complete Block Design. Freshly harvested curds from respective plots were considered in postharvest and sensory study. Maximum curd dry matter (15.91%) and Vitamin C content (37.94 mg/100 gm) was recorded in Khumal Jyapu whereas, maximum leaf dry matter (12.53%) and TSS (7.1830Brix) were recorded in Aghani. The color score (8.913) and overall appearance score (7.908) were maximum in Khumal Jyapu. The curd compactness score (7.475) and overall acceptance score (8.133) were recorded maximum in Aghani. The lowest physiological loss in curd weight with jacket leaves (8.193%) was recorded in Khumal Jyapu after 3 days after harvesting (DAH) whereas; the lowest physiological loss in curd weight recorded in Aghani were 13.47%, 19.32%% and 25.06% at 5, 7 and 9 DAH respectively. Similarly, the lowest physiological loss in curd weight without jacket leaves recorded in Khumal Jyapu were 10.45%, 14.82%, 22.83% and 29.77% at 3, 5, 7 and 9 DAH respectively. The lowest spoilage losses of curd along with and without jacket leaves recorded in Aghani were 33.27% and 38.77% respectively. Considering the economically important postharvest attributes Khumal Jyapu and Aghani were found to be the suitable mid-season cultivars in Dang condition.

Effect of Seed Rates and Sowing Dates on Productivity of Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

A field experiment was conducted at the Agronomy farm of Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC), Khumaltar, Lalitpur to evaluate the effect of sowing dates and seed rates on yield and yield attributes of wheat. The experiment was laid in a split-plot design with three replications treated with 4 sowing dates as the main plot factor (12th Nov, 27th Nov, 12th Dec, and 27th Dec) and 4 seed rates as subplot factor (100 kg ha-1, 120 kg ha-1, 140 kg ha-1 and 160 kg ha-1). Results revealed that the leaf area index was significantly affected by sowing dates and was comparatively superior in 2nd sowing date (27th Nov) wheat. Similarly, in the case of seed rates, the leaf area index was influenced significantly and was recorded to be increasing with an increase in seed rates. Phenological parameters like days to 50% heading, flowering, and maturity were observed maximum (116, 123, and 179 days, respectively) in early sown wheat and reduced with the subsequent delay in sowing. Maximum values of yield and yield attributes like effective tillers per meter square (635.6), spike length (9.56 cm), grains per spike (41.49), grain yield (7.59 Mt ha-1), and straw yield (9.58 Mt ha-1) were observed in the wheat sown in 2nd date (on 27th Nov) which differed significantly to wheat sown on other dates. Seed rates had no significant influence on grain yield and yield attributes. Thousand-grain weight was found maximum (46.26 g) in early sown wheat (on 12th Nov sown wheat, reduced with the subsequent delay in sowing, and the harvest index was observed as maximum (0.51) under December 27 sown wheat. Though the yield and its attributes were not influenced significantly by seed rate, the maximum yield (6.18 Mt ha-1) was observed in wheat sown at the rate of 120 kg ha-1. Considering seed yield and its parameters, 2nd date of sowing wheat (27th Nov) and seed rate of 100 kg ha-1 could be the best option to uplift the productivity of wheat in rainfed lowland conditions of Lalitpur, Nepal.

Effect of combined application of urea and organic manures on soil acidity along with the growth and yield attributes of okra at Lamjung, Nepal

An experiment was conducted in horticulture farm of Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, Lamjung Campus, Nepal to evaluate the effect of combined application of Urea and Organic manures on soil acidity along with the growth and yield attributes of Okra. The experiment was set up under Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) comprising five treatments replicated four times. The various treatments used in the experiment were Cow manure + Urea, Buffalo manure + Urea, Goat manure + Urea, Buffalo manure + Goat manure + Urea and the Untreated Control. The required doses of Nitrogen for the crop were applied through treatments and that of Phosphorous and Potassium was petitioned from Single Super Phosphate (SSP) and Muriate of Potash (MOP), respectively. The quantities of nutrients were put in as recommended by Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) (i.e., 200:180:60 kg NPK per ha). The effect of Goat manure + Urea was found superior against plant height at 30 DAS (13.52 cm) and 45 DAS (32.15 cm), leaf area throughout the growth stage and in final mean fruit yield (12.33 t/ha). Meanwhile, the impact of Cow manure + Urea was found superior against plant height at 60 DAS (46.67 cm) and in case of reducing soil acidity (Soil pH = 6.75). Eventually, the experiment suggests the farmers to use Goat manure + Urea for desirable Okra production considering soil health and also with the application of Cow manure + Urea in the interval of (2-3) years ensuring the control over soil acidification.

Prevalence of antibodies against classical swine fever in two districts of Nepal

This study aimed to investigate the seroprevalence of Classical Swine Fever (CSF), caused by the Classical Swine Fever Virus (CSFV), in the Bhaktapur and Kavrepalanchok districts of Nepal. The primary objective was to determine the prevalence of antibodies against CSFV in the swine population, providing crucial insights for targeted interventions and control strategies. A cross-sectional study was conducted between January and March 2018. The research involved structured questionnaire surveys and blood sample collection from selected farms in the study area. A total of 184 serum samples were collected and subjected to testing using the IDEXX ELISA test kit. The study evaluated seroprevalence by considering variables such as district, sex, age groups, and housing systems. Out of the 184 serum samples collected, 34 were found to be seropositive for CSFV antibodies, resulting in an overall seroprevalence of 18.40%. The study identified significant variations in seroprevalence between different factors, including districts, sexes, age groups, and housing systems. These findings indicate a notable exposure of swine populations in the Bhaktapur and Kavrepalanchok districts to CSFV. This research highlights the considerable risk posed by CSF to the pig populations in the Bhaktapur and Kavrepalanchok districts of Nepal. The identified seroprevalence and variations among different factors emphasize the importance of targeted interventions and control strategies in these regions. The findings serve as a foundation for informed decision-making to mitigate the impact of CSF, safeguard swine health, and protect the livelihoods of those dependent on the swine industry. This study was made possible with the support of the Zoonosis Control Project under the National Animal Science Research Institute, Nepal Agriculture Research Council.

Molecular Identification and Antioxidant Activity Determination among Coffee Varieties Cultivated in Nepal

Coffee is the most popular beverage containing numerous phytochemical components that have antioxidant activity capable of scavenging free radicals. Antioxidant and phenolic contents have considerable benefits for human health. The aim of this study was the molecular identification of 9 coffee samples from the Nepal Agricultural Research Council, Lalitpur, Nepal, and the determination of the antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of green and roasted coffee beans. Molecular identification was performed using ITS-specific PCR followed by sequencing and phylogenetic tree construction using the maximum parsimony method. The DPPH assay was used to determine the antioxidant activity, and the Folin–Ciocalteu (F-C) assay was used to determine the total phenolic content. All the samples belonged to the taxa Coffea arabica. The antioxidant activity in roasted beans varied from 2.49 to 4.62 AAE mg/g and from 1.4 to 3.9 AAE mg/g in green beans. The total phenolic content varied from 2.58 to 3.38 GAE mg/g and from 4.16 to 5.36 GAE mg/g for the roasted beans and green beans, respectively. The data revealed that the highest antioxidant content (4.62 AAE mg/g) was found in roasted coffee and that the highest phenolic content (5.36 GAE mg/g) was found in green coffee. The study concludes that roasting increases the antioxidant activity but decreases the phenolic content of coffee.

Insecticidal toxicity of essential oil of Nepalese Acorus calamus (Acorales:Acoraceae) against Sitophilus zeamais (Coleoptera:Curculionidae)

Maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais) (Coleoptera:Curculionidae) is an economic stored grain pest that causes significant damage to various stored products, including maize (Zea mays). In this study, we extracted essential oil from the rhizome of sweet flag (Acorus calamus) (Acorales:Acoraceae) by hydro-distillation and tested insecticidal property of the oil at 7 concentrations (10, 5, 2.5, 1.25, 0.625, 0.3125, 0.15625 and control) against maize weevil (Sitophilus zeamais) at the National Entomology Research Center, Nepal Agricultural Research Council in the year 2020/2021. Three different experiments were conducted: scintillating vial bioassay, repellency test, and exposing weevils to oil treated maize grains. Scintillating vial bioassay showed that higher the concentration of essential oil, lower the time required to cause 50 % maize weevil mortality. Median lethal concentration (LC50) at 3 and 24 h was calculated as 2.29 and 0.16 % of oil concentration in scintillating vial bioassay. When oil is treated to maize grain, LC50 for 10 and 16 days was calculated as 2.77 and 0.23 % of oil concentrations. In the same way, at 10 % concentration maize weevil showed highest repellent activity (98.75 %) as compared to 5, 2.5 and 1.25 % concentrations after 24 h of treatment. Weight loss and grain damage were significantly less in the oil treatments than the control. However, from the perspective of health benefits, Acorus calamus treated maize is still questionable for feed and food purpose. As β asarone has carcinogenic effects at certain level, it needs further residue tests of treated maize to know allowable maximum residue limit (MRL) before consumption as food or feed.

In vitro Evaluation of Different Chemical Fungicides for the Control of Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn

An in vitro experiment was conducted for an evaluation of different chemical fungicides against Rhizoctonia solani using poisoned food technique at National Plant Pathology Research Centre, Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) Khumaltar, Lalitpur. Pathogen was isolated from infected broad leaf mustard. The experiment was conducted in Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications for each treatment. Seven fungicides as treatments, namely, Saaf (carbendazim 12% + mancozeb 63%), Bavistin (carbendazim 50%), Vacomil Plus (metalaxyl 15% + copper oxychloride 35%), Nativo (tebuconazole 50% + trifloxystrobin 25%), Sectin (fenamidone 10% + mancozeb 50%), Kingstival (dimethomorph 50%) and Topcare (azoxystrobin 50%) were taken for the evaluation. Two levels of concentrations (100 ppm and 200 ppm) were used for each fungicide and concentration was calculated based on active ingredients (a.i.) of the fungicides. All fungicides were used individually to study the rate of inhibition of R. solani on PDA media. At higher concentration 200 ppm, Bavistin, Nativo and Saaf showed complete inhibition of the mycelial growth of the pathogen whereas at lower concentration 100 ppm, Bavistin was only completely effective against the pathogen. Sectin and Topcare were also highly effective in inhibiting the growth of R. solani. The efficaces of Kingstival and Vacomil Plus against the pathogen were much lesser than others. The active ingredients carbendazim, tebuconazole, mancozeb and trifloxystrobin showed the highest degree of mycelial growth inhibitions compared to others. The fungicides that found to be effective for inhibition of mycelial growth of R. solani in this study should be further tested in the field conditions in order to verify their efficacies as well as to determine their optimum application doses.

Storability of Different Hermetic Bags on Seed Quality Attributes of Maize in Khumaltar, Lalitpur

To evaluate the comparative superiority of exotic hermetic seed storage bags versus locally available bags supplemented with or without desiccants for on-farm seed storage of smallholders, an experiment was conducted in the National Seed Science and Technology Research Centre (NSSTRC) of Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) from May 2017 to June 2019. Maize seed variety Manakamana-3 was allocated in 8 treatments based on storage devices with three replications in a completely randomized design (CRD). The 98% initial germinating seed was stored in eight different storage containers viz., S1, Super grain bag; S2, PICS bag; S3, Safe Grain bag; S4, 400-gauge plastic bag; S5, 400-gauge plastic double liner; S6, 400 gauge + metal bin; S7, 400 gauge + Zeolite beads; S8, 400 gauge + roasted wheat. All seed attributing data were taken in tri-monthly intervals for two and half years. In the first year, all seven treatments were found statistically at par results for germination above 85% by meeting the Nepalese maize seed standard except 400-gauze plastic bag-single liner. However, significant differences were seen in each treatment in the second year. Results on germination of storage structures with desiccants viz., 400 gauge + Zeolite beads, and 400 gauge + roasted wheat were found superior to any other storage structures such as PICS bag, Super grain bag, Safe grain bag, 400 gauge + metal bin, & 400-gauge plastic double liner. Whereas, the single liner of a 400-gauge plastic bag was found non-suitable and found vulnerable to fungal infestation in long-run storage in ambient storage conditions. Hence, it was concluded that the locally fabricated seed storage bags provided equal results to exotic hermetic bags for one season seed storage in Mid-hill, humid and sub-temperate condition of Nepal and hence, found economical modified atmospheric storage (MAS) option for small holder farmers.

Preparation and Quality Evaluation of Ready to Serve (RTS) Wheatgrass Juice

Wheatgrass is an inexpensive and efficient source to provide all the required nutrients and medicinal benefits for a healthy body. The major objective of this study is to formulate a health-beneficial beverage that could be organoleptically accepted by people of all age groups, to bring forward a new product from wheatgrass that has mostly remained unexplored. The wheatgrass harvested on the 9th day (optimized on the basis of chlorophyll, tannin, total polyphenols, flavonoids and DPPH radical scavenging activity) was taken for study. The wheat seeds (WK 1204 variety), collected from Agriculture Botany Division, Nepal Agriculture Research Council were used for the preparation of ready-to-serve juice. Eight different formulations of RTS were prepared with the help of Design-Expert®, version 7, keeping juice content 7-13%, TSS 9-16 °Bx and constant acidity at 0.3%. Response Surface Methodology, D-optimal design was adapted for the formulations. The optimization of the formulation was intended to be carried out based on sensory analysis. Proximate and phytochemical (Chlorophyll, Polyphenol, Flavonoids, Tannins and Antioxidant properties) composition of 9th days harvested wheatgrass, its extracted juice and the final product was also carried out. The statistical analysis (two-way ANOVA, no blocking) was done in order to evaluate the outcomes of sensory analysis. There was a significant difference for sensory attributes like flavor, taste, body and overall acceptability at p<0.05, whereas color wasn’t found to be significantly different. Sensory analysis revealed that the beverage consisting of 12.8% Wheatgrass juice, 12.5°Bx TSS and 0.3% acidity was considered best among all the combinations.

Agricultural Policies and Practices: Pathways for Transformation

Agriculture has been a cornerstone of human civilization for thousands of years, providing food and other essential resources to sustain our societies. However, as we enter the 21st century, we face unprecedented challenges that threaten the very foundations of our agricultural systems. Climate change, resource depletion, and population growth are just a few of the issues that demand urgent attention from policymakers and practitioners alike. Further, the growing population, climate change, the recent COVID-19 pandemic, the Ukraine-Russia war, and the depreciation of national currencies have disrupted the global food supply chain and increased food prices and food insecurity in many countries, including Nepal. The Nepalese agriculture sector alone contributed employment opportunities for more than 60 % of the population with a 23.9% share in total value added of the national economy (Ministry of Finance, 2022). Though the majority of farmers in Nepal are engaged in the agriculture sector, there is still a dominance of traditional and subsistence agriculture and the country's agricultural production is not enough to feed its population. The continued rise in import bills and volume of food products in recent years has been a major challenge for the country. Addressing these constraints warrants consortia of efforts from the government, nonprofits, and private sectors to promote sustainable and regenerative agricultural concepts and practices that align with local farm attributes and the agroecological environment. With the above mentioned issue, Policy Research Institute, the publisher of NPPR, collaborated with Association of Nepalese Agricultural Professionals of Americas (NAPA) for the utilization of expert knowledge for public policy making and policy discussion. PRI is open to collaborating with any professional and intellectual society for policy issues. Thereof, a two-day (January 6-7, 2023) virtual symposium on "Agricultural Policies and Practices in Nepal: Pathways for Transformation" was jointly organized by the PRI and NAPA with the aim to discuss and synthesize structural, policy intervention-related procedural, and local barriers and issues inherent to inadequate agricultural growth in Nepal and recommend transformative and pragmatic policies, programs, and practices feasible at local, regional, and national levels. The other symposium collaborators were the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD), Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC), Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU), Institute of Agriculture and Animal Sciences (IAAS, Tribhuvan University), Nepal Agricultural Cooperative Central Federation Ltd. (NACCFL), and Society of Agricultural Scientists-Nepal (SAS-Nepal). The 38 papers presented at the symposium brought together over 500 researchers, policymakers, and practitioners from around the world. The symposium highlighted the importance of innovative policies and practices that can help transform agriculture and ensure its sustainability for future generations. The symposium was organized and facilitated in four thematic areas. The Agriculture Policy theme highlighted an analysis of current agricultural policies, laws, and regulations that have hindered the production and marketing of farm products, land use policies, transformative agriculture for the viable and circular economy, promoting cooperative farming, farm diversity, and sustainability including internationally successful policy practices suitable for Nepal. The Agricultural Research, Education, and Extension theme included diverse subject matters. These were genetic improvement of crops and livestock for diverse agro-climatic zones; technology innovations and dissemination; science-based knowledge and extension practices; climate-smart and organic agriculture; agri-business and entrepreneurship; commercial agriculture; and integration of agricultural research, education, and extension. Similarly, the Technology and Infrastructure Development theme focused on varied avenues of innovative technology (such as UAV, GIS, and Remote Sensing), farm mechanization, and smart and efficient irrigation practices to optimize costs of production, labor, fertilizer shortages, and monitoring of plant and soil health Finally, the Governance theme underpinned coherence and discordance between the policy frameworks and governing structures/mechanisms of three levels of government and opportunities for realignment for agricultural transformation as well as a local governance framework for agricultural service delivery at a municipality level. Finally, the symposium highlighted the importance of partnerships and collaborations in driving transformational change. The papers discussed the potential of public-private partnerships, multi-stakeholder platforms, and other forms of collaboration to leverage resources, share knowledge, and scale up innovative solutions. This special issue received 20 papers for publication consideration, however, after the review process, it is able to manage 12 papers for publication. These papers provide a rich and diverse set of insights into the pathways for transforming agriculture. They offer both practical guidance and theoretical frameworks for policymakers and practitioners seeking to navigate the complex challenges facing agriculture today. We hope this special issue will inspire further research and action towards a more sustainable and equitable agricultural future. We thank all the authors who contributed to this special issue and the reviewers who provided their valuable feedback. We also extend our appreciation to the symposium organizers and collaborators. Finally, we encourage additional authors/presenters to submit their papers in the NPPR’s Regular Issue, which will be published in September 2023.

Does mastitis cause economic loss in dairy cattle in Nepal?

Mastitis is an economically important disease of dairy cattle worldwide. To assess its economic impact, a study was conducted in 384 households from eight districts namely Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Sarlahi, Chitwan, Rupandehi, Makawanpur and Kavre of Nepal having major dairy pockets, higher number of cattle population and higher number artificial insemination records. A semi-structured questionnaire was designed, pretested and asked with the respondents having dairy cattle. A focus group discussion was made with the members of dairy cooperatives, service providers from the government and private sectors including veterinarians, paraprofessionals and development workers. The key informant’s interview was performed with livestock experts from veterinary laboratories, veterinarians from Department of Livestock Services (DLS) and Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) to identify and triangulate the economic loss caused by clinical and subclinical mastitis. The survey results showed that an estimated loss of 8320 million Nepalese rupees (around 64 million USD) for sub-clinical mastitis and 4430 million rupees (around 34 million USD) for clinical mastitis. Dairy cattle suffering from mastitis also showed the higher incidence of infertility. The probability of infertility in mastitis affected cattle is 11% higher as compared non affected cattle. It is recommended to initiate the effective mastitis control program immediately which also helps to reduce the incidence of infertility in dairy cattle.

Identification of the Promising Lines of Lentil for Varietal Improvement

This study aimed to evaluate and identify promising lentil genotypes for varietal enhancement, conducted at the Nepal Agriculture Research Council (NARC), Agriculture Botany Division (ABD), Khumaltar. Eighteen genotypes sourced from the National Grain Legumes Research Program (NAGRC) and the International Centre for Agriculture Research in Dry Areas (ICARDA) was assessed. Various parameters, including plant stand, flowering duration, maturity period, plant height, yield-related traits, chlorophyll content, and disease severity, were recorded. Notable correlations were found between grain yield and key attributes such as pods per plant, 1000-seed weight, chlorophyll content, final plant stand, and branches per plant. Genotypes exhibiting high chlorophyll content, optimal plant height, increased branching, greater seed weight, more pods, enhanced plant stand, and lower disease susceptibility displayed positive correlations with grain yield. Among these, genotype ILL-10071 demonstrated the highest average grain yield, highlighting its potential for further breeding and improvement programs. Other promising genotypes included ILL-9924, ILL-3338, ILL-10265, ILL-1920, ILL-6458, ILL-6465, and RL-71, showcasing significant grain yield and warranting consideration in future varietal enhancement initiatives. These findings underscore the importance of specific traits in lentil genotypes and provide valuable insights for breeding programs aimed at enhancing lentil productivity.

LEGAL INSTRUMENTS IN FISHERIES SECTOR OF NEPAL

Aquaculture is one of Nepal’s fastest-growing agricultural subsectors. The current total national fish production is 77,000 mt, with capture fisheries accounting for 28% and aquaculture accounting for 72%. Modern aquaculture and fisheries practices contribute nearly 1% of GDP and 2.68 % of Agriculture GDP (AGDP). This sub-positive sector’s performance, in contrast to others whose contribution to GDP has declined over time, suggests its popularity among farmers. Fisheries and aquaculture education, research, and extension policies are extensions of the main national agriculture policy. Fisheries and aquaculture are a thriving sub-sector of Nepal’s agriculture sector, with high growth potential but limited organizational capacity. The Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC) is mandated to conduct fisheries and aquaculture research. Overall, the country’s fisheries activities are primarily governed by the government’s policy strategy. As the focal institution, the Directorate of Fisheries Development of His Majesty’s Government of Nepal formulates and implements national fisheries and aquaculture development plans and programs approved by the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. The primary goal of the national fisheries policies and acts is to contribute to economic growth and poverty reduction through inclusive, equity-based, and ecosystem-based aquaculture practices (EAA). Specific laws and legislation on aquaculture development must be drafted or enforced to build capacity and facilitate entrepreneurship. Furthermore, Best Management Practices (BMPs) must be identified and implemented for the sub-sector to grow sustainably.

DUAL CULTURE APPROACH FOR THE EVALUATION OF ANTAGONISTIC ACTIVITY OF NATIVE TRICHODERMA ISOLATES AGAINST BIPOLARIS SOROKINIANA

Spot blotch disease caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana (Sacc.) shoem. is one of the most destructive diseases of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in plain areas of Nepal. A laboratory experiment was conducted to evaluate the antagonistic activity of seven test Trichoderma isolates obtained from the soil sample by employing dual culture method against spot blotch pathogen of wheat Bipolaris sorokiniana at Plant Pathology Division, Nepal Agriculture Research Council, Khumaltar, Nepal. The experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The result revealed that all Trichoderma isolates showed control over the pathogen. Isolate T517 stands out to be the most effective one giving 67.81% mycelial growth inhibition but isolate T528 was the least effective. Native Trichoderma can have significant biocontrol potential and may provide an effective solution against plant fungal diseases.

Does Conservation Agriculture Work For Rainfed Farming In Nepal? A Review

Intensive tillage-based agricultural practices severely affect the soil’s physical, chemical and biological properties that eventually limit the crop yields in longer run. It is due to declining soil physical, chemical and biological properties. Several studies have been done to restore and improve the soil quality, however conservation agriculture (CA)-based practices of minimum tillage, crop residue retention and appropriate crop rotations has been observed to be promising across the globe. Studies on CA under Nepal’s rainfed farming systems of Terai and hills of Nepal improved the soil quality, increased individual crop and system yields, reduced labor demand and was economically profitable. However, lack of adequate soil moisture during planting in initial seasons, inadequate tillage equipment and weed management options are the key constraints of rainfed farming to be transformed into CA in initial stages. In Nepal, the introduction of animal-drawn direct seeding equipment, management of residues or mulches, mechanical or herbicidal weed management options for small-scale rainfed hill farmers can be of paramount significance in scaling-out of the CA based practices in Nepal. For this, further on-station and on-farm verifications of CA based practices need to be carried out across the various cropping systems and agro[1]ecological regions of the country by Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC), Nepal in collaboration with international CG centers, universities, extension and development institutions.

Optimum Sowing Date And Fertilizer Management For Durum Wheat Genotype DWK 38 In Mid-Hills Condition

Durum wheat is relatively new crop for Nepal and research on durum wheat were carried out only by Agriculture Botany Division of Nepal Agricultural Research Council (NARC). To find the optimum sowing time and fertilizer dose for mid-hills conditions of Nepal, an experiment was carried out in 2017/18 and 2018/19 at Agronomy Division Experimental farm in Khumlatar at an altitude of 1360 masl. The experimental design was factorial randomised complete block design. There were 3 fertilizer level and 4 sowing date constituting 12 treatment combinations. From the combined analysis over years, we found that plant height, days to heading, days to maturity, thousand grain weight and grain yield were found significnat in sowing date whereas number of tillers per square meter, straw yield and harvest index were significant in fertilizer doses. Combined analysis of both years yielded mean grain yield of 5.2 t/ha and thousand grain weight of 48.6 gm respectively. Precipitation during reproductive period (March[1]April) in 2017/18 contributed in higher grain yield than 2018/19. Optimum sowing date of durum wheat for khumaltar condition is no later than 26 November and optimum dose of fertilizer is 125:75:50 N:P2O5:K2O kg/ha.

Selection of elite broadleaf mustard (<i>Brassica juncea</i> var. <i>rugosa</i>) (L.) germplasms for the mid-hill conditions of Nepal

This study was carried out to select the suitable and high leaf yielding broadleaf mustard genotypes for the mid-hill conditions of Nepal. We evaluated seven germplasms of broadleaf mustard (Brassica juncea var. rugosa (L.) Czern.) namely, ‘HRDBLM001’, ‘HRDBLM004’, ‘HRDBLM007’, ‘HRDBLM009’, ‘HRDBLM010’, ‘Marpha Chauda Pat’, and ‘Khumal Chauda Pat’ in the field of the National Horticulture Research Centre, Khumaltar under Nepal Agricultural Research Council during the winter season of two consecutive years, 2019 and 2020. The germplasms were collected from the local diversity centres in the country. The experiment was laid out in the Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) in three replications per treatment. Seeding was done in September, and 28-day-old seedlings were transplanted in the field. The results obtained from the two consecutive seasons revealed that plant vigour was found to be greater in ‘HRDBLM010’ and ‘Khumal Chauda Pat’ (4.7 in the 1 to 5 scale score). The highest leaf weight (65.1 g) was found in ‘HRDBLM010’, followed by ‘HRDBLM007’ (45.6 g) and ‘Khumal Chauda Pat’ (40.9 g). The highest number of leaves was produced by ‘HRDBLM004’ (50 leaves per plant), while leaf weight per plant was the highest in ‘HRDBLM010’ (691.1 g per plant) followed by ‘HRDBLM004’ (535.4 g per plant). Genotype ‘HRDBLM010' produced the highest leaf yield (54.52 MT ha-1), followed by 'HRDBLM004' (44.28 MT ha-1) and ‘HRDBLM007’ (41.65 MT ha-1). Thus, these three germplasms showed superiority among the seven tested germplasms and they could be recommended for cultivation in the mid-hill conditions of Nepal.