Azarian Journal of Agriculture
Volume:4 Issue: 6, Dec 2017

Crop-specific timing of irrigation is necessary to conserve irrigation water and improve yield of vegetables. Therefore, the experiment was conducted to identify the optimum irrigation timings for hydroponic lettuce plants. Three nutrient solution timings, T1(once a day at 0900 hours), T2(once on alternative days at 0900 hours), and T3(once at two-day intervals), and three varieties, ‘Legacy’ (V1), ‘Red fire’ (V2), and ‘Green wave’ (V3) were evaluated. Growth and yield parameters, including number of leaves, leaf length, leaf diameter, and fresh weight of leaves, and growth parameters, including leaf area (LA), leaf area ratio (LAR), leaf mass ratio (LMR), root weight ratio (RWR), relative growth rate (RGR), and net assimilation rate (NAR) were determined. The values of growth parameters were the highest for T1. The highest and lowest NAR and RGR values were obtained for T1 and T3, respectively. The values of most growth traits, including fresh weight, NAR, and RGR were higher for V1 than other varieties. T1 provides high yield with comparatively less irrigation water and nutrient solution so it can be used to culture lettuce using aggregate hydroponics as.

A field experiment was carried out from November 2014 to April 2015 in farmer’s field, Fulbari, Chitwan, Nepal to access the influence of different varieties and nutrient sources on quality parameters of carrot. The experiment was laid out in two factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications, consisting of three varieties i.e. Nepadream, New Kuroda and Early Nantes as factor A and five nutrient sources i.e. 1) RDF at the rate of 60:40:40 NPK kg ha-1 2) FYM at the rate of 3t ha-1 3) 50% RDF plus 50% FYM 4) 50% RDF plus 50% vermicompost 5) Vermicompost at the rate of 1.2t ha-1 as factor B. The quality parameters as core diameter, cortex diameter, core to cortex ratio and TSS were measured at harvest. The study revealed that core and cortex diameter were not influenced significantly by varieties while TSS content and core to cortex ratio were influenced significantly. Nepadream variety recorded higher TSS and lower core to cortex ratio than Open Pollinated (OP) varieties (New Kuroda and Early Nantes) due to which it was more acceptable in terms of quality. Similarly, core diameter was influenced non-significantly with nutrient sources while other parameters were influenced significantly. The combined effect of varieties with nutrient sources was non-significant with respect to all the quality parameters. Thus in general, the hybrid variety was found superior to local varieties. Likewise, the integration of organic and inorganic nutrient sources resulted in better quality carrot roots than the sole treatments.

A field survey was conducted after harvesting of rice crop 2016 to identify the reasons for less adaption of aromatic rice variety Basmati 515. The rice growers adopting rice-wheat cropping pattern in kallar tract were included in population of research study. Thirty male farmers from each selected district making a total of 180 respondent farmers were interviewed by convenience sampling method. The survey findings showed that the aromatic rice variety Basmati 515 was cultivated on only 2.7% rice area while maximum area (47.3%) was under Super basmati variety. The comparison of Basmati 515 was made with Super basmati and PS 2 due to comparatively more cultivated area and declared yield potential of these varieties. Overall the farmers were applying under dosed phosphorus fertilizer (DAP) as 0.25, 0.20 and 0.22 bag ha-1 respectively for basmati 515, super basmati and PS-2 varieties. The descriptive analysis showed that the less adaptability of basmati 515 was due to less yield and more attacks of borer (11%), BLB (10%) and leaf roller (3.25%) in comparison to other aromatic and fine rice varieties. Similarly maximum lodging (16%) was recorded on basmati 515. Maximum yield was estimated for PS 2 variety (4.7 t ha-1) followed by super basmati (4.0 t ha-1) and basmati 515 (3.78 t ha-1). The market price of super basmati was still higher due to its natural aroma, long & thin grain and export demand. The research institutes should focus for development of new aromatic high yielding and more qualitative rice varieties to increase the rice production and export.

This study was carried in Banke district with the objective of understanding production and post-harvest activities, marketing and production problem of maize seed producer along with the decision making nature in seed producing households in comparison to non-seed producing households. A total of 65 households were randomly selected as sample which included 36 seed producer and 29 non-seed producing households. The average family size of the study population was 4.64 with 45.4% male and 54.6% female. Adoption of seed production found to be positively related with literacy and extension service. Local market was the largest source (67%) of seed implying poor facility from government agencies. Weeding activity and inspection of field by technician appeared to be very poor and seed testing also appeared inadequate. Lack of technical assistance found to be the most important problem of maize seed production with the index score of 0.77. Better technical support, supply of quality inputs and better irrigation facility appeared to be key for encouraging farmers in seed production. The study households showed male dominance in decision making but male dominance level found to be low in seed producer compared to non-seed producer households. Study showed that for encouraging maize seed producers and enhancing their production and profitability, extension program about business activity, input purchase, improved variety and involvement in training and workshops should be targeted more toward male while credit supply and information about efficient labor use should be prepared targeting both male and female.