A review on the impact of wildfires on ecosystems, water quality, and health risks to humans

Due to global warming, climatic changes, and enhanced anthropogenic activities (due to population growth) over the past 20 years, the number and intensity of wildfires have increased manifold around the world. Although forest fire is integral to shaping the forest’s flora and fauna and maintaining the environment’s health, frequent fires and their severity are causing several adverse impacts on the environment, aquatic organisms, wild animals, and humans. Wildfire releases the volatile organic pollutants in the environment (in the form of smoke), inducing changes in soil physicochemical properties and affecting the hydrological cycle. The pH values of soil and surface water are altered due to ash, which adversely impacts the aquatic organisms and soil microbes. The soil’s water retention capacity significantly reduced (35-45%). The smoke generated during wildfires adversely affects the health of wild animals and humans. Trends that are predicted to continue are not only a natural disturber of forests and ecosystems but also significantly affect human and wild animals’ health adversely. Wildfires not only damage forests and have a negative impact on human and animal health but also threaten water security, increase the probability of flooding, and increase economic losses. In-depth research and understanding on this topic are urgently needed for the better management of forest ecosystems. In this review research information publish after 2019 was considered and we have discussed the recent update in wildfire and forest fire, their causes, impacts on the soil quality, water resources, biodiversity and human health, and this article will serve as the basis for future wildfire research

Prospecting the potential of black turmeric herbal tea: Cultivation, processing, preparation and marketable characteristics

Curcuma caesia Roxb. locally called Kali Haldi in India, is a well-known medicinal herb, traditionally used in the management of many health problems including high blood pressure, stomach pain, diarrhea, muscle stiffness, nerve injury, ulcer, cancer, acidity, stomach bloat, gastric, weight management and joint pain. This herb is found to be gown in almost all Indian kitchen yard without any product to be sold in market. The present work explores the potential of unexplored C. caesia in the domain of sustainable agro-farming, the herbal tea industry, its cultivation, processing, preventive medicine, and marketable features for the employment generation. The major objectives of this study were to explore the potential of the shoot parts of the C. caesia as an herbal tea and explore the potential of C. caesia as a means of alternative livelihood, development of a healthy alternative beverage. Manual labour activities were used in cultivation, hybrid methods of dehydration and maceration were used in the processing of herbal tea and packaging were done manually, Door to door marketing and word of mouth were used in the marketing of C. caesia herbal tea. For the first time, the study reports the leaves of C. caesia as a source of herbal tea, the study also reports potential of C. caesia in relation with agro industry prospects, sustainable development, preventive medicine, employment generation and healthy beverage. The present study is a contribution to the mankind in the introduction of C. caesia as herbal health tea and put forwards the lines “Let Tea Be a Medicine and Medicine Be a Tea”

Status of large cardamom in Nepal: Trend of production, marketing, challenges and prospects

Large cardamom (Amomum subulatum) grown mainly in the hilly regions of Nepal, is a valuable export commodity that fetch higher prices compared to other agricultural products. Its cultivation which was once restricted to country's eastern regions has now spread to 53 districts of Nepal.  There is an increasing trend in both the acreage and production of large cardamom over the past 12 years in Nepal with peak production and productivity recorded in the year 2019 and 2020 which were 9545 Mt. and 0.58 t/ha, respectively. However, various challenges such as diseases and insects has reduced the potential of its production. Thus, the study focuses on identifying the requirements for improving large cardamom production, including disease management, suitable cultivars, and orchard management techniques. The problems associated with the marketing system and challenges related to price instability of large cardamom are also discussed, along with potential solutions. Also, the study proposes future goals to enhance productivity and evaluates the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) of the large cardamom production and marketing in Nepal

Prospects and constraints of coffee production, processing and marketing in Syangja, Nepal

Coffee is a major plantation cash crop in the mid-hills of Nepal. Syangja is one of the leading districts for coffee production and export in Nepal. This research was aimed at assessing the production potential, processing constraints, and marketing challenges of coffee in the Syangja district. The study was conducted in three rural municipalities of Syangja, namely Arjunchaupari rural municipality, Biruwa rural municipality, and Putalibazar municipality. A total of 120 samples were selected using a mixed sampling technique, combining purposive and random sampling methods. Face-to-face (FtF) interviews were conducted using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire. Data were analysed using the Relative Importance Index (RII) and forced ranking methods. The major production constraint was infestation by white stem borer (RII = 0.846), while improper cherry picking (RII = 0.9) was the most significant processing challenge. In terms of marketing, low profit margins (0.74) and price fluctuations (0.635) were identified as key constraints. Despite challenges, Syangja has strong coffee-growing potential due to its favourable climate and high economic returns. The study highlights that coffee cultivation has strong potential to enhance rural incomes in Syangja, but existing challenges in production, processing, and marketing need to be addressed. Poor government support and inadequate market linkages have resulted in dissatisfaction among farmers. Therefore, integrated interventions, including improved pest management, enhanced processing techniques, and cooperative-based marketing models, should be introduced by the Nepal government to improve the sustainability and profitability of the coffee sector in Syangja

Effect of different packaging materials and calcium chloride on post-harvest longevity of banana

Nepal produces large amount of bananas annually but suffers significant losses owing to inappropriate postharvest management. The objective of the study was to determine the influence of polythene and fiber bag packaging, and calcium chloride treatment on bananas quality and shelf life. The two-factor experiment involved treatments that included bananas wrapped in a polythene and fiber bag of size 60 cm × 60 cm, and an open space, combined with calcium chloride concentrations of 1%, 3%, and 5%, along with untreated fruits kept in open space without using any bag as a control. Each treatment was replicated three times in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). The research was conducted for 16 (sixteen) days and the observation taken were physiological weight loss, ripening percent, titratable acidity (TA), and total soluble solid (TSS). Polythene bag with 5% CaCl2 reduced 89.6% weight loss than that of open space with 0% CaCl2. Similarly, polythene bag with 5% CaCl2 reduced ripening percentage by 10.72% compared to open space with 0 % CaCl2. Polythene bag also reduced ripening percentage by 4.14% compared to fiber bag at 16th Day of study. On the 16th Day, ripening percentage was reduced by 5% by 5% CaCl2 concentration compared to 0% CaCl2.  A longer time to reach ripening stage was observed in polythene than those of fiber bags and open space. Thus, the polythene bag with 5% CaCl2 fruits had the highest TSS content (23.2 0Brix)

Enhancing wheat yield through strategic irrigation management

To assess the irrigation strategies, an experiment was conducted with three wheat varieties viz. BARI Gom-19, BARI Gom-21, and BARI Gom-24 and four levels of irrigation viz.  no irrigation (control), one irrigation at the crown root initiation (CRI) stage [17 days after sowing (DAS)], two irrigations at CRI (17 DAS) and the booting stage (52 DAS), and three irrigations at CRI (17 DAS), the booting stage (52 DAS), and the heading stage (67 DAS). Variety, irrigation and their association revealed notable impact on the yield of wheat. Within the three varieties tested, BARI Gom-24 demonstrated the highest performance, producing the greatest total tillers/hill (4.43), effective tillers/hill (3.75), grains/spike (40.55), 1000-grain weight (53.93 g), and grain yield (4.41 t/ha). Regarding irrigation, the best results were achieved with three irrigation applications, resulting in the tallest plants (96.22 cm), the highest total tillers/hill (4.79), effective tillers/hill (4.17), grains/spike (44.36), 1000-grain weight (55.38 g), and grain yield (4.35 t/ha). When combining variety and irrigation, BARI Gom-24 with three irrigations produced the tallest plants (99.13 cm), the highest total tillers/hill (4.93), effective tillers/hill (4.33), grains/spike (46.39), 1000-grain weight (55.80 g), and grain yield (4.41 t/ha). All these parameters showed significantly lower performance under no-irrigation conditions. The findings suggest that providing thrice irrigations at the CRI, booting, and heading stages is the optimal strategy for maximizing wheat yield with BARI Gom-24

Impact of agricultural credit on profitability and efficiency of onion cultivation in a selected area of Bangladesh

Onion is one of the most important commercial spice crops in Bangladesh, grown and consumed almost all over the country. The purpose of this study was to look at the socioeconomic factors, loan profile, profitability and efficiency, as well as the effect of credit on onion production in Bangladesh's Pabna district. Stochastic production frontier method and profitability analysis was used in this study. Primary data were collected through a field survey of 120 onion farmers using a semi-structured interview schedule. The major findings of this study revealed that the majority of the sample farmers were between the ages of 30 and 64; the average family size and annual household income were 5.36 persons and Tk. 264,450 (US$2409.57). About 85 percent of the loan money was used for onion cultivation in the study area. Onion production was profitable in the study area. Per hectare, total cost, total return, gross margin, net return, and benefit-cost ratio (BCR) were Tk. 384090.5 (US$ 3499.69), 973657 (US$8871.59), 671957.5 (US$ 6122.62), 589566.5 (US$5371.90), and 2.53, respectively, for the credit group and Tk. 378412 (US$ 3447.95), 895920 (US$8163.28), 599761 (US$ 5464.79), 517508 (US$ 4715.33), and 2.37, respectively, for the non-credit group. The mean farmer's technical efficiency was 94 percent. The impact of credit on onion cultivation was positive. The coefficient value was 0.081. Thus, the study area has tremendous potential for onion production; relevant authorities need to ensure the smooth, timely, and hassle-free flow of sufficient credit to the onion farmers

Synergy of biochar and organic fertilizer improves soybean (Glycine max L.) growth by alleviation nutrient stress in strongly acidic Taiwanese soil

The potential of biochar and organic fertilizer to enhance soil fertility, promote crop growth, and increase yield is driving their growing popularity in modern agricultural practices. This research investigated the effects of applying a combination of biochar and organic fertilizer on soil physico-chemical properties and the growth attributes of soybean (Glycine max L.) in the strong acidic soil of Taiwan. The study was conducted in a greenhouse using a pot experiment arranged in a randomized complete block design with two factorial treatments, replicated three times. Fifteen days after soil amendment, treatment B35F140 had a significant increase in soil pH of 5.54 compared to the control group. Similar treatment resulted in higher P available in soil of 19.11 mg kg-1. In addition, 45 days after soil amendment, organic matter, available potassium, calcium, magnesium, copper, and zinc increased by 19.59%, 236.36%, 38.39%, 112.76%, 7.01%, and 44.59% in the application of treatments B70F140, B35F140, B35F105, B70F140, and B35F70, respectively, compared to control.  The tallest soybean plants were seen on the application of treatment B70F140 with a maximum height of 112.75 cm, while treatment B35F140 produced many soybean plant leaves — 51 leaves per plant. Moreover, root hairs extensively grew on soybean plants grown on the amended soils than those of the control treatment. Conclusively, our findings have statistically demonstrated that the combination of biochar and organic fertilizer can improve soil quality and soybean growth characteristics under conditions of strongly acidic soil, as evidenced by a short-term pot and greenhouse study

Econometrics analysis of consumers’ willingness to purchase organic fruits and vegetables in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal

The number of people interested in environment-friendly products and becoming health-conscious has increased. The tendency of consumers to buy organic fruits and vegetables is growing gradually. Nonetheless, the number of people consuming organic fruits and vegetables is low in the case of Nepal due to the higher price of organic products. As a response to the problem, a study was conducted among 159 people who were randomly surveyed consumers of Kathmandu Valley to determine the various factors affecting the willingness of consumers to pay for organic fruits and vegetables. We used general linear regression model was applied to determine the consumers’ willingness to purchase organic vegetables and fruits. The analysis shows that 46 percent of consumers are willing to pay up to 24 percent for conventional products. The study found that the factors like Income, and Education were significant factors in determining the willingness of consumers to purchase organic vegetables and fruits. Consumers' health awareness is critical in determining the attitude, intention, and frequency of purchasing organic vegetables and fruits However, this study shows that in underdeveloped nations like Nepal, health issues and environmental issues are not significant factors in consuming organic products, whereas higher income plays a significant role in purchasing organic products

Agroforestry and traditional knowledge: Lessons from indigenous practices in South Asian Countries: A review

Agroforestry is deeply rooted in South Asian tradition as an important and dynamic land-use system that integrates agriculture and forestry. The review sums up indigenous agroforestry practices in South Asian countries, drawing attention to the multi-dimensional benefits obtained through such practices: food security, biodiversity conservation, and economic resilience. Systems such as multifunctional home gardens, Agri silviculture, silvopasture, and the Taungya system represent the innovative approaches developed in the region to integrate trees, crops, and livestock. The traditional knowledge contributing to such sustainable management is often passed down through generations. These indigenous practices, including home gardens and alley cropping, have ensured continued adaptation to evolving environmental and socioeconomic pressures, and lessons learned contribute to modern-day land management in the face of climate change and urbanization. Active women's involvement secures ecological balance and economic stability, representing the sociocultural dimensions of agroforestry. However, globalization, population pressure, and gaps in policies have confronted these practices, which has marginalized indigenous communities and shifted them towards more market-driven agricultural systems. Countries like Nepal and India have provided a policy impetus to agroforestry yet lack of integration and support remains one of the major obstacles. This review signals the importance of policy reforms that integrate traditional knowledge for sustainable development. Integration of indigenous knowledge with modern techniques of agroforestry could contribute to food security challenges, ecological resilience, and cultural heritage in South Asia. The authors call for increased institutional support and inclusive governance to mainstream agroforestry as a sustainable land-use strategy in the region