Assessment of the effectiveness of storage structures for maintaining the quality of maize seed stored at different moisture levels

One of the main causes of food insecurity is the timely unavailability of quality seeds for smallholder farmers in developing countries. Improved storage technologies are effective in reducing storage losses. Thus, the objective of this research is to assess the traditional and emerging seed storage structures/materials for the maintenance of seed qualities. The effect of different storage conditions (moisture content of seed at the time of storage, i.e. 12±0.15% and 13.5±0.18%; storage containers such as metal bin, earthen pot, Purdue Improved Crop Storage (PICS) bag, and jute bag) on seed qualities of maize were assessed. The seed was collected from Chitwan, Nepal and a laboratory experiment was conducted at the central seed testing laboratory, seed quality control center (SQQC), Hariharbhawan, Lalitpur. The experiment was done using a two-factor complete randomized design in a four replicates design. Data regarding the seed qualities (seed moisture percentage, germination percentage, root and shoot length, and vigor index) just before store and also at 45, 90, 135, 180, and 240 days after storage (DAS) was performed as per the standard followed by  International Seed Testing Association (ISTA). The germination percentage, root, and shoot length decreased with increasing storage duration. The seed stored in the higher moisture level had significantly higher seed moisture throughout the storage duration. Seed stored in the traditional structures (jute bag and earthen pot) had lower seed moisture at 120 and 180 DAS. The seed stored at lower moisture resulted in a higher germination percentage, long root, and shoot length. Up to six months of storage germination of maize seeds stored in the earthen pots, PICS bag, and Jute bags were statistically similar. The traditional storage structures are equally effective for the maintenance of seed quality of maize

Comparative Economics of Maize Grain and Seed Production in Okhaldhunga District, Nepal

Maize cultivation is the one the major farm activities among Nepalese farmers. Basically, in the rural hills of Nepal like Okhaldhunga, it dominates any other crop production. The study was conducted for comparative assessment of economics, marketing and identification of major problems of maize seed and grain production in the hilly eastern district, Okhaldhunga during June of 2017. The data were obtained through the interview of 66 producers (33 each of maize grain and seed producers) with a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and parametric tests (-test, t-test) were applied. Both the grain and the seed producers were similar in terms of socio-demographic characteristics, marketing accessibilities but the seed producers were significantly benefited from the training, the extension services, credit facilities despite having 0.14 ha lesser landholding than grain producers. The inputs (manures, fertilizers and the seed) contributed 48% and 50% of the total cost incurred for grain and seed production respectively and the pre-sowing and sowing activities contributed more than 77% of cost in both cases. Despite higher cost for seed production (NRs. 24,969 more than grain production), the benefit-cost ratio of seed production was found higher (1.31) than grain production (1.05). Only 24% of the total harvest was processed and marketed as seed and using optimum quantity (66% middle portion of the cob) for seed production could further increase the income by 23.35%, the improved B:C ratio being 1.51 . The major production problems were scarce farm labor followed by lack of infrastructures while low seasonal price followed by low volume of production ranked the first and second most important marketing related problems

Comparative economics of maize grain and seed production in Okhaldhunga district, Nepal

Maize cultivation is the one the major farm activities among Nepalese farmers. Basically, in the rural hills of Nepal like Okhaldhunga, it dominates any other crop production. The study was conducted for comparative assessment of economics, marketing and identification of major problems of maize seed and grain production in the hilly eastern district, Okhaldhunga during June of 2017. The data were obtained through the interview of 66 producers (33 each of maize grain and seed producers) with a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and parametric tests (-test, t-test) were applied. Both the grain and the seed producers were similar in terms of socio-demographic characteristics, marketing accessibilities but the seed producers were significantly benefited from the training, the extension services, credit facilities despite having 0.14 ha lesser landholding than grain producers. The inputs (manures, fertilizers and the seed) contributed 48% and 50% of the total cost incurred for grain and seed production respectively and the pre-sowing and sowing activities contributed more than 77% of cost in both cases. Despite higher cost for seed production (NRs. 24,969 more than grain production), the benefit-cost ratio of seed production was found higher (1.31) than grain production (1.05). Only 24% of the total harvest was processed and marketed as seed and using optimum quantity (66% middle portion of the cob) for seed production could further increase the income by 23.35%, the improved B:C ratio being 1.51 . The major production problems were scarce farm labor followed by lack of infrastructures while low seasonal price followed by low volume of production ranked the first and second most important marketing related problems

Resource use efficiency of maize production with and without irrigation system in Kaski, Nepal

The study examined the resource use efficiency of maize production in rainfed and irrigated conditions in Kaski, Nepal. It focused specially on the production function of maize, resource use efficiency and socioeconomic characteristics of the farmers. A well-structured interview schedule was used in this study. Out of the 368 households interviewed, 165 farmers cultivated maize and a total of 157 farmers (59 from irrigated and 98 from rainfed) provided useful data. The data analysis was done by using Microsoft excel and SPSS. Cobb-Douglas production function was used to determine the resource use efficiency of maize production.  Compared to rainfed system, maize productivity in irrigated system was higher despite the use of fewer input implying irrigation. Increase in seed use by 10% increased the yield by 1.9% in case of rainfed system and 0.05% in case of the irrigated system. The major implication for the study is that farmers should make proper utilization of their resources to achieve higher level of resource use efficiency

Bridging yield gap of winter maize using improved agronomic management practices

Appropriate combinations of inputs determine the productivity of crops. A field experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of different combinations of inputs on the yield of winter maize at National Maize Research Program (NMRP), Rampur, Chitwan. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with four replications comprising of six treatments (T1= Hybrid (H) + recommended doses of NPK (RD) + irrigation (I) + high density (HD) (83333 plant ha-1) + improved weed management practice (IWMP), T2=Open pollinated variety (OPV)+RD+I+HD+IWMP, T3=OPV+ farmer’s doses of NPK (FD)+I+HD+IWMP, T4= OPV+FD+rainfed (R)+HD+IWMP, T5=OPV+ FD+ R+low  density (LD) (55555 plant ha-1) + IWMP, T6=OPV+FD+R+LD+ farmer’s weed management practice (FWMP). The research result revealed significant variation on the grain yield among the different treatments. The highest grain yield (5357 kg ha-1) was obtained when hybrid maize was grown with recommended dose of fertilizer, higher density, irrigation and improved weed management practices. This treatment was followed by replacement of OPV in the above treatment (4410.77 kg ha-1). The decline in yield due to replacement of OPV from hybrid was 17.67 percent. The percent yield decline from full Package of practices (T1) were 23.01, 47.81, 36.66 and 35.95 when input combinations OPV+FD+I+ HD+IWMP, OPV + FD+R+HD+IWMP, OPV+FD+R+LD+IWMP and OPV+FD+R+LD+ FWMP respectively were used..The contrast for grain yield between hybrid vs. OPV, RD vs. FD and Irrigated vs. Rainfed were significant. Therefore, present investigation showed hybrid maize, recommended dose of fertilizer and irrigation were the most important inputs for improving maize productivity in winter season in Chitwan like climatic condition

Precision Nitrogen Management in Spring Rice (Oryza sativa L.) using Decision Support Tools in Chitwan, Nepal

The blanket prescription of nitrogen (N) fertilizer often results in irrational fertilization. To address this issue and align the application of nitrogen fertilizers with the crop-specific demand, it is imperative to save nitrogen resources, maximize the uptake and net income, and subside environmental pollution. In this context, a field experiment was carried out in Kumroj, Chitwan, Nepal during 2022 to assess the growth, yield, and profitability of rice production by comparing different precision nitrogen management practices. The study was carried out in a randomized complete block design with seven treatments and three replications. The treatments included decision support tools for nitrogen management such as the Green Seeker (GS), the Soil plant analysis development Development (SPAD) meter, and the Leaf Color Chart (LCC) combined with basal application of nitrogen at 30 kg ha–1 and the Urea briquette Deep Placement (UDP), the Polymer Coated Urea (PCU), and the Recommended Dose of Fertilizers (RDF, 120 kg N ha–1). The growth, yield, yield attributes, and financial data were taken. Precision nitrogen management techniques significantly enhanced rice growth and yield parameters. GS–guided application required the highest nitrogen demand (155 kg ha–1), while SPAD (80 kg ha–1) and UDP (78 kg ha–1) resulted in lower usage. PCU and UDP enhanced plant height, leaf area index, and above–ground dry matter. Higher grain yield (6.64 t ha–1) was attained with LCC, SPAD (6.44 t ha–1), and UDP (6.41 t ha–1) treatments. GS application exhibited the highest straw yield (11.17 t ha–1), while LCC demonstrated the highest benefit–cost ratio (1.96). This study concluded that SPAD and UDP demonstrated the potential to save nitrogen resources, while LCC and UDP were found profitable

Resource Use Efficiency of Maize Production with and Without Irrigation System in Kaski, Nepal

The study examined the resource use efficiency of maize production in rainfed and irrigated conditions in Kaski, Nepal. It focused specially on the production function of maize, resource use efficiency and socioeconomic characteristics of the farmers. A well-structured interview schedule was used in this study. Out of the 368 households interviewed, 165 farmers cultivated maize and a total of 157 farmers (59 from irrigated and 98 from rainfed) provided useful data. The data analysis was done by using Microsoft excel and SPSS. Cobb-Douglas production function was used to determine the resource use efficiency of maize production.  Compared to rainfed system, maize productivity in irrigated system was higher despite the use of fewer input implying irrigation. Increase in seed use by 10% increased the yield by 1.9% in case of rainfed system and 0.05% in case of the irrigated system. The major implication for the study is that farmers should make proper utilization of their resources to achieve higher level of resource use efficiency

Bridging Yield Gap of Winter Maize Using Improved Agronomic Management Practices

Appropriate combinations of inputs determine the productivity of crops. A field experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of different combinations of inputs on the yield of winter maize at National Maize Research Program (NMRP), Rampur, Chitwan. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with four replications comprising of six treatments (T1= Hybrid (H) + recommended doses of NPK (RD) + irrigation (I) + high density (HD) (83333 plant ha-1) + improved weed management practice (IWMP), T2=Open pollinated variety (OPV)+RD+I+HD+IWMP, T3=OPV+ farmer's doses of NPK (FD)+I+HD+IWMP, T4= OPV+FD+rainfed (R)+HD+IWMP, T5=OPV+ FD+ R+low  density (LD) (55555 plant ha-1) + IWMP, T6=OPV+FD+R+LD+ farmer's weed management practice (FWMP). The research result revealed significant variation on the grain yield among the different treatments. The highest grain yield (5357 kg ha-1) was obtained when hybrid maize was grown with recommended dose of fertilizer, higher density, irrigation and improved weed management practices. This treatment was followed by replacement of OPV in the above treatment (4410.77 kg ha-1). The decline in yield due to replacement of OPV from hybrid was 17.67 percent. The percent yield decline from full Package of practices (T1) were 23.01, 47.81, 36.66 and 35.95 when input combinations OPV+FD+I+ HD+IWMP, OPV + FD+R+HD+IWMP, OPV+FD+R+LD+IWMP and OPV+FD+R+LD+ FWMP respectively were used..The contrast for grain yield between hybrid vs. OPV, RD vs. FD and Irrigated vs. Rainfed were significant. Therefore, present investigation showed hybrid maize, recommended dose of fertilizer and irrigation were the most important inputs for improving maize productivity in winter season in Chitwan like climatic condition