Azarian Journal of Agriculture
Volume:7 Issue: 4, Aug 2020

Maize is the livelihood of smallholder farmers and priority food crop in the middle hills of Nepal. To achieve maize self-sufficiency in the country we need to shift from openpollinated varieties to hybrids in potential pockets of middle hills. Coordinated varietal trials on hybrids were conducted for three consecutive years from 2016/17 to 2018/19 across the middle hills during summer to identify high-yielding, biotic and abiotic stresses resistant/tolerant single crosses that fit into the existing rainfed cropping system. We evaluated fifteen, nine, and ten genotypes in 2016/17, 2017/18, and 2018/19, respectively. Trials were replicated thrice using a randomized complete block design with a unit plot size of four rows of 4-m long. Based on acceptable grain yield, anthesis to the silking interval, ear position, and Turcicum leaf blight (TLB) and Grey leaf spot (GLS) reaction, CAH1715 (9.12 t ha-1 ), RML-4/RL-111(8.72 t ha-1 ), RML98/RL-105 (8.25 t ha-1 ), RL-150/RL-111 (8.18 t ha-1 ), RL-36/RL-105 (8.04 t ha-1 ), CAH1521 (7.67 t ha-1 ) and Rampur Hybrid-10 (7.65 t ha-1 ) were identified promising. These genotypes will be promoted to farmers' field trials and other participatory variety selection activities.

Six exotic potato genotypes named Actrice, Cereza, Margarita, Messi, Picobella, and Sunred, along with four check varieties, were evaluated at different locations (agroecological region) of Bangladesh in three consecutive years, 2016-17 to 2018-19 respectively to find out some stable genotypes for commercial cultivation in Bangladesh. Combined analysis of variance showed a highly significant difference among the genotypes, locations, and GEI for all the characters studied. None of the genotypes were found suitable for early harvesting (65 DAP), but when the full maturity was considered, significant variations were found for different tuber qualities and yield. During the third year, the mean highest yield was observed in Sunred (39.86 t ha-1 ), closely followed by Margarita (37.57 t ha-1 ). All the tested genotypes yielded more than 30 t ha-1 and were better than the checks. Dry matter content was the highest in the check variety Lady Rosetta (20.09%). None of the tested genotypes were better than the check varieties in dry matter content, quite unsuitable for processing. Sunred produced a very large-sized uniform and smooth tubers with a medium-high dry matter. If its dry matter content can be increased by 2-3% giving intensive agronomic management, this variety may be suitable for French Fry production. All the exotic genotypes were suitable as table potatoes. Picobella was the most stable, but the average yield is low. Considering the yield and other qualities, Sunred, Margarita, Cereza and Actrice may be further evaluated in large plots for commercial cultivation before releasing as variety.

The specific purpose of the present study was to explore the nutritional properties of bananas as exposed to various coating treatments. The single factor experiment was accompanied by a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications. Among the physicochemical parameters; moisture content, total weight loss, and TSS increased with the duration of storage. On the other hand, dry matter, titratable acidity, and vitamin C content reduced during storage in the case of all the treated and untreated fruits. Paraffin coating caused minimal weight loss, whereas, the untreated fruits exhibited maximal weight loss. The peel color turned blackened within 8 days of storage in the untreated fruits, while sesame oil coating helped to keep it slightly green until day 10, but microbial decay was evident at the end of the storage time. Significant variation was found in extending the shelf life of banana. Among the treated and untreated fruits, paraffin coating and sesame oil coating showed the best performance. The fruits coated with paraffin and sesame oil coating showed the longest shelf life (10 days) which followed by olive oil coating (9.33 days). The shortest shelf life was detected in the untreated control fruits (8 days). This is an attempt to extend the shelf life of banana using readily available coating materials.

The present study was designed aiming to quantify the daily feed intake and voided amount of adult beef animals and the future potentiality of voided material through following proper recycling methods. An animal trial was arranged to quantify the sum of daily intake and outgo of 10 individual animals separately. Regular dung and urine were collected in a separate bucket and weighed at every 24-hours interval using a digital weighing balance. Laboratory scale anaerobic digestion of solid dung was continued up to 60 days and the total gas and slurry production was quantified. Results showed that about 7.84 kg feed DM and 0.83 kg N were consumed by each animal daily of which 33% of consumed feed volume became lost in solid dung where the excreted DM extent was 25%. In the case of nitrogen, the losing range was 42.2%. 1kg solid dung mixed with an equal amount of water produced 0.03 cubic meter biogas and 1.86 kg bio-slurry from the digestion anaerobically. The gas production trend was somewhat slow in the first week which started to increase up to 4th week. Only 27.78% DM of supplied feedstock was used during gas production and the remaining portion come out from the digester as residue. The DM and N of fresh bio-slurry was 7.0 and 2.31% respectively and the recovered N in the fresh slurry was 100 times higher than fresh dung. The amount of lost feed nitrogen and its future probable potentiality can be defined through this study