Azarian Journal of Agriculture
Volume:7 Issue: 3, Jun 2020

Improving maize production is one of the most effective strategies for solving a food insecurity issue. Differences in the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), canopy temperature depression (CTD), and grain yield were evaluated for 14 hybrid maize genotypes at Sundarbazar, Lamjung, Nepal. During a growing season (May to September, 2019), the NDVI was measured using a GreenseekerTM handheld sensor to predict in-season yield and nitrogen (N) recommendations. The CTD was measured using a Fluke infrared thermometer to estimate yield and determine heat resistant genotypes. Both NDVI and CTD showed significant positive relationships with grain yield. For the NDVI, the coefficient of determination (R2 ) were 0.66, 0.52, 0.76, and 0.49 at 15, 30, 45, and 60 days after sowing (DAS), respectively. For the CTD, R2 values were 0.41, 0.45, 0.59, and 0.58 at 15, 30, 45, and 60 DAS, respectively. Nitrogen (N) requirement from the NDVI-based N calculator for the yield potential under the farmers’ nutrient management levels, regardless of genotypes, was nearly half of the recommended N dosages. The genotypes with negative CTD values (RML-11-2/ RML18, RL-35-1/RL-105, and RL-24-0/RL-111) were particularly prone to heat stress, while all other genotypes were heat stress resistant. The results indicated that top dressing of ~54kg N ha-1 is required at 45 DAS. Nitrogen requirements decreased as crop growth progressed towards the reproductive stage. Results indicated that 45 DAS was an appropriate time for the top dressing of N, and application of N at a later stage of crop growth had a smaller advantage.

A field experiment was conducted at Agriculture and Forestry University, Chitwan, Nepal during winter of 2017 to find out the effect of different doses of Nitrogen and Boron on the performance of cauliflower. A completely randomized block design (RCBD) with four replications and nine treatments were used with three different doses of Nitrogen (260, 200 and 140 Kg ha-1 ) as factor A, and three doses of Boron (1.7, 1.1 and 0.5 Kg ha-1 ) as factor B. In case of Nitrogen, all the morphological and yield parameters were recorded maximum from 260 Kg Nitrogen ha-1 at harvest and those parameters were recorded minimum from 140 Kg Nitrogen ha-1 at harvest. In case of Boron, all the morphological and yield parameters except curd diameter were recorded maximum from 1.7 Kg Boron ha-1 at harvest and those parameters were recorded minimum from 0.5 Kg Boron ha-1 at harvest. In case of combined effect, the highest curd yield (40.55 t ha-1 ) and lowest curd yield (34.05 t ha-1 ) were obtained from N1B2 and N3B3 respectively. Meanwhile, maximum curd dry matter (7.04 %) and minimum curd dry matter (5.39%) were obtained from N3B1 and N3B3 respectively. N1B3 accounted for the highest (19.33 cm) curd diameter which was statistically identical with all the other treatments except N3B3. N3B3 accounted for the minimum curd diameter (15.35 cm). Therefore, it can be concluded that the maximum curd yield and maximum curd diameter can be obtained from treatment N1B2 (260 Kg ha-1 + 1.1 Kg ha-1 ).

Increasing demand for maize in Nepal can only be met by growing high yielding hybrids. The best selection of appropriate genotypes for given ecologies can contribute to boosting up the total production. To identify suitable hybrids for the mid-hills and Terai region, series of coordinated farmers' field trials and demonstrations were carried out at respective eco-zones of Nepal for three consecutive years from 2016/17 to 2018/19. Six to eight promising single cross hybrids developed by the National Maize Research Program were evaluated with P3533, Rajkumar, and CP808 as commercial checks. The experiments were laid out in randomized complete block design. Pakhribas, Kabre, Khumaltar, Lumle, Salyan, Surkhet, and Dailekh represented the mid-hill and Maharanijhoda, Tarahara, Belachapi, Sagarnath, Dumarwana, Parawanipur, Rampur, and Nepalgunj represented the Terai and inner Terai. CP808 and CAH1715 produced a higher grain yield of 8122 and 7566 kg ha-1 at mid-hills and Terai, respectively under coordinated farmers' field trials. RML-86/RML-96 outyielded with grain yield of 7319 kg ha-1 in the demonstration at Terai in 2018/19. Based on two to three years' yield data across different eco-zones of Nepal, it was concluded that the Nepali hybrids mainly RML-95/RML-96, RML-86/RML-96, and Rampur Hybrid-6 can produce the average yield more than 6700 kg ha-1 . Experimental results showed that RML-95/RML-96 and RML-86/RML-96 were most stable for grain yield in the mid-hill while in Terai and inner Terai, P3396 and Rampur Hybrid-10 showed good stability. These results indicate the expanding scope of such hybrids across the respective eco-zones.

This study was carried out during February to March in 2020 to analyze the production and marketing of cucumber in the Nawalpur district of Nepal. The study was designed to perform cost-benefit analysis, assess the current marketing situation, and perform the SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) analysis. Both primary and secondary data were collected for this study. A total sample size of 120 farmers from two rural municipalities (Binayee Tribeni and Bungdikali) was selected using a simple random sampling technique. Similarly, 25 traders, 10 consumers, 5 agrovets and 3 middlemen were also surveyed. Secondary data were collected from municipalities, Agriculture Knowledge Centre, MOAD (Ministry of Agriculture Development), online websites, and library sources. Results revealed that the benefit-cost ratio was 3.22 in the study area. The market margin and net profit were NRs. 37 kg-1 and NRs. 674560.4 ha-1 , respectively. The producer’s share in the consumer’s price was 38.33%. This study showed the unavailability of inputs in time was the most serious problem during production followed by disease and insect outbreak. The major problem associated with marketing was the perishable nature of the product followed by a low price.