Chemical quality attributes of mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) as affected by altitude and fruit bearing position in Kavre, Nepal

Mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) occupies a prominent position in the total fruit sector of Nepal. A study was conducted to assess chemical quality parameters of mandarin in Kavre district of Nepal, during February 2018. Three altitudes (1410, 1540 and 1670 m.asl) and four bearing positions of fruits (East, West, North, and South) in each tree were taken, from southern facing slope of local mandarin orchard under normal farmer managed practices. Fruits from each sector were scored for TSS, pH, TA and ascorbic acid content. The result showed that the TSS (14.6o Brix), pH (3.37), and TA (0.06%) were recorded higher in the mandarin harvested at an altitude of 1410 m.asl. TSS/TA (23.81) and ascorbic acid content (35.96 mg/100g) were recorded highest in mandarin fruit harvested from 1670 m.asl altitude. Similarly, TSS/TA (21.13) was recorded higher in mandarin on eastern canopy of tree. TA (0.91%) and ascorbic acid content (37.54 mg/100g) were recorded higher in mandarin fruit harvested from western canopy. TSS (15.0o Brix) and pH (3.41) were highest in mandarin of southern canopy. The combined effect of altitude and fruit bearing position had significant effect on pH (P = 0.008), TA (P=0.012), TSS/TA (P = 0.014) and ascorbic acid content (P<0.001). Mandarins at southern bearing position located at 1540 m.asl and lower altitude were comparatively of good quality than of the upper altitude. Since the main chemical attributes for maintaining quality of mandarin, mandarin located at an altitude of 1540 m.asl followed by mandarin located at 1410 m.asl were promising than mandarin of higher altitude

Storability of sweet potato genotypes under ordinary ambient storage conditions

Saabunud / Received 26.04.2021 ; Aktsepteeritud / Accepted 30.08.2021 ; Avaldatud veebis / Published online 30.08.2021 ; Vastutav autor / Corresponding author: Prakash Bhattarai [email protected] study was carried out to evaluate the storage performance of sweet potatoes in different conditions under ordinary ambient temperature (10.11–17.49 °C) at Khumaltar, Lalitpur (1350 masl) district of Nepal from December, 20 to March, 13 during the years 2018/19 and 2019/20. The experiment was laid out in Factorial Completely Randomized Design with three replications. Tuberous roots of three sweet potato genotypes (CIP 440015, CIP 440267, and Local White) harvested at 4-month maturity were stored inside an ordinary room in dry sand, sawdust, thin jute sack, natural mud pot, and open crates (control). Data were taken on the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th weeks of storage. The pooled results showed a significant effect of storage conditions on physiological loss in weight and rotting (%) of sweet potato genotypes. With the progression of the storage period, physiological weight loss (PLW) and rotting (%) were significantly increased in all treatments. At the 12th week of storage, the highest PLW was recorded in the tubers stored in open crates (70.2%) followed by natural mud pot (65.2%) whereas the lowest PLW was observed in tubers stored inside the dry sand (50.2%). Genotype CIP 440015 showed good storability with minimum PLW. No weevil infestation and sprouting were observed during the experimental period. The lowest percentage of tuber rotting was recorded in the genotype CIP 440015 (55.3%) and inside dry sand (48.7%) at the 12th week of storage while it was the highest up to 85.9% in CIP 440267. The highest rotting 76.7%) was recorded in thin jute bags which is statistically at par with natural mud pot (76.5%). The interaction effect of storage conditions and genotypes was found not significant. The results showed an increment in dry matter and reducing sugar content while the reduction in ß-carotene and starch content of tubers after 3 months of storage inside dry sand. There was positive and strong correlation of storage duration with dry matter (r = 0.750) and reducing sugar (r = 0.658) whereas, negative correlation with starch (r = –0.918) and ß-carotene (r = –0.352) content of sweet potato genotypes. The study concluded that sweet potato tuber can be kept for 8 to 10 weeks in dry sand with minimum postharvest loss in ordinary room condition and the genotype CIP 440015 has good storability among the tested genotypes in similar conditions

Rice production in Chitwan district of Nepal: An analysis from economic and environmental perspectives

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the major staple food in the Nepalese context. Chitwan district of Nepal was purposively selected to analyze the rice production from the socio-economic and environmental perspective. A total of 100 rice growing farmers, 50 organic and 50 inorganic were selected as the sample for the purpose of the study using the simple random method of sampling. Primary data were collected through a pre-tested semi-structure interview schedule and key informant interviews; secondary data were collected reviewing related publications. Descriptive statistics, multiple regression and chi-square test were used for data analysis. The multiple regression revealed that the four explanatory variables included in the model: age of the household head, primary occupation of the household head, number of family members involved in agriculture and subsidy in inputs for rice farming were found to have positive and statistically significant effect on rice yield (P<0.01). Moreover, chi-square test revealed that the farming practices that contributes to climate change mitigation such as: minimum tillage practice (P<0.05), crop diversification (P<0.01), green manuring (P<0.01), agro forestry practice (P<0.05), incorporating crop residues (P<0.1), weed management practice (P<0.01) and pest management practice (P<0.01)were found to be well adopted by the organic rice farmers, in contrast, the farming practices of inorganic rice farmers were statistically and significantly different in this respect. Government should make such policy that could grave the attention of the Nepalese people towards organic agriculture; moreover, encouraging them to make it their primary occupation

Economic analysis and resource use efficiency of carrot production in Chitwan district, Nepal

A study was conducted from February to May 2020 to analyze the cost-benefit economics analysis and resource use efficiency of carrot production in Chitwan, Nepal. Altogether 70 households producing carrot were selected randomly and surveyed through the pre-tested semi-structured interview-based schedule. Data was entered and coded using SPSS 25 and analyzed using STATA 12.1. The study revealed that the total variable cost per hectare for carrot production was US $1803.1 and a benefit-cost ratio of 1.81 was estimated. Cobb-Douglas production function models the relationship between production output and production inputs . Production function analysis including seven explanatory variables, showed a significant positive effect of seed cost, tractor cost and human labor cost (P<0.01), fertilizer and manure cost (P<0.05) on gross return but herbicide cost, packaging cost, vitamin and micronutrients cost were found insignificant. The return to scale was found to be 1.42. According to estimated allocative efficiency indices, it is suggested to increase the seed, fertilizer and manure, tractor labor and  human labor costs by approximately 45%, 74%, 67%, and 79% respectively and reduce the herbicide and packaging costs approximately by 116% and 246% respectively. The adoption of modern technologies with adjustments to resource use should be suggested to maximize the productivity and profit from carrot production