Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science

Assessment of genetic diversity is fundamental for crop improvement programs, as it helps to identify desirable traits and broaden the genetic base. Thus, research was carried out in augmented rod row design to assess phenotypic diversity and variation among 16 proso millet accessions at Sundarbazar, Lamjung, during rainy season of 2025. The maximum Shannon Weaver’s diversity (H') value was observed in susceptibility to aphids (1.58) and the lowest (H' = 0.66) in stigma color and panicle angle of branches. Flag leaf anthocyanin color intensity (χ²= 6.125, p=0.04) and spikelet shape (χ² = 7.625, p=0.02) were the only traits with significant differences (p < 0.05) among the studied accessions. The coefficient of variation (CV%) ranged from 9.37% for panicle length to 45.4% for days for 50% germination. The first 6 principal components contributed 85.4% of the total variation. NGRC07335, NGRC07336, and NGRC09157 from cluster III were the potential high-yielding accessions having 15,13 and 11 g per plant yield, respectively and identified as best performing accessions. NGRC 07335 (4.38), followed by NGRC 09157 and NGRC 07349 (4.06), were the top-ranked accessions in the participatory varietal selection process. Thus, the current study provides a foundational framework for characterizing and evaluating the diversity of proso millet accessions with significant potential for genetic enhancement and breeding programs.

Intercropping, an intensive agricultural cropping system, has been widely practiced since ancient civilizations for its enhanced yield and nutrient acquisition advantages. It significantly contributes to more efficient land use, increased income, and food production per area, while also reducing the risks of crop loss for small-scale farmers. Most farmers employ intercropping practices at the small household level, often accompanied by the addition of a specific dose of nitrogen. Nitrogen has a significant impact on the vegetative growth of plants. A maize-soybean and maize-cowpea intercropping was conducted to assess the effect of nitrogen (N) fertilizer application on biomass production and distribution of essential nutrients in various plant parts (root, above-ground shoot biomass, and seed) of maize-soybean intercropping (MSI), as well as maize-cowpea intercropping (MCI). The maize, soybean, and cowpea varieties were Arun-2, Puja (local breed), and Kashi Kanchan, respectively. The experiment was conducted in a two-factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications, and nine treatments were used for research purposes. The growth parameters of the crop, namely, plant height, number of leaves, leaf area index (LAI), first ear height, ear girth, ear length, ear weight, kernel weight, number of kernels in each kernel line of the cob, and number of kernel lines in the cob, were significantly influenced by a higher nitrogen dose. However, intercropping with cowpeas and using the complete 100% nitrogen recommendation yielded the highest benefit-cost ratio, sensitivity analysis, and the maize grain equivalent yield (MEY). Thus, the results of this experiment suggest to farmers the benefits of using intercropping or maize cultivation with 100% of the recommended nitrogen dose compared to regular maize cultivation at a specific nitrogen dose.

Inclusion of legumes in the cropping system is essential for sustainable management of farming systems and reducing nitrogen fertilizer requirement for maize production. An experiment was conducted to evaluate the rotational effect of legumes and nutrient management on maize productivity in the National Maize Research Program (NMRP), Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal, in 2017/18 and 2018/19. The field experiment was laid out in split-plot design consisting four cropping systems: fallow-maize, lentil-maize, chickpea-maize, and field pea-maize as main plot and four combinations of manures and fertilizers: control, recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF), farmyard manure (FYM), and RDF (50%) + FYM (50%) as subplot. Each treatment was replicated three times. Pooled data over 2 years showed that rotating maize with legumes increased maize yield by 23.1%, 16.1%, and 9.1% when chickpea, field pea, and lentil, respectively, were used, compared with the fallow-maize cropping system. Similarly, the result showed that a higher grain yield of maize (4949 kg/ha) was obtained from the chickpea-maize cropping system followed by 4666 kg/ha from the field pea-maize cropping system. The data observed significantly higher grain yield of 5140 kg/ha were obtained from application of RDF followed by RDF (50%) + FYM (50%) (4939 t//ha). There was 52.2%, 46.2%, and 35.2% increment in the yield of maize by use of RDF (100%), FYM (100%), and RDF (50%) + FYM (50%), respectively, over control. The results of this study suggest that the incorporation of legumes like chickpea, lentil, and field pea as rotation crops in maize production was more profitable and effective to increase productivity of maize and make viable and sustainable agriculture.

Indiscriminate use of chemical fertilizers is a common practice which is hazardous both for soil health and environment. Chemical fertilizers have been widely used due to their immediate availability of nutrients; however, their long-term effects on soil and crop sustainability necessitate alternatives such as organic fertilizers. It has been more than three decades that global agriculture has been depicted towards organic agriculture owing to sustainability and reduced environmental effects. A field experiment was conducted at Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science (IAAS), Lamjung Campus from December 2022 to February 2023, with the objective to study the effect of various sources of organic manure on the growth and yield of radish. The experiment was conducted in Randomized Complete Design using 7 treatments (Control, Farm Yard Manure(FYM), Poultry Manure(PM), Goat Manure, FYM + Poultry Manure, FYM + Goat Manure, Poultry Manure + Goat Manure) with 3 replications of each. Tokinashi variety of radish was used in the experiment. Radish is an important root vegetable known for its nutritional value and quick growth cycle, making it a key crop for studying the impacts of organic manure. Experiment was done in field with the plot size of (2 x 1) m² and spacings of 30 cm x 20 cm with the total land area of 90 m². The growth and yield of radish were significantly affected by the different treatments. The highest total root yield (204.33) and biological yield (263.67) was found in Poultry manure. The study suggested that the application of poultry manure was more beneficial and resulted in significantly better growth and yield performance of radish.

Tomato ( Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) is one of the most consumed vegetables in the world. Chemicals like Bavistin and Calcium Chloride used to enhance the postharvest life of tomatoes have detrimental effects on human health. An experiment was conducted on tomatoes to determine the effects of essential oils on their physical (color, firmness, weight loss) and chemical attributes (TSS, TA, Vitamin C, pH). Tomatoes were treated with different concentrations of lemon grass oil, calcium chloride (1%), and extract of Justicia adhatoda (100%), and the effects were analyzed along with the control. No significant difference in weight loss was observed among treatments recording maximum weight in Justicia extract treatment (12.86%) and minimum in the control (9.73%). Maximum firmness (5.71 Nmm -1 ) was recorded in 100% Asuro extract treatment on Day 14 while there was no significant difference in pH on treated tomatoes except on the 10 th DAT. A significant difference was noted in TSS, titratable acidity on 4 DAT, and vitamin C content among treatments. TSS content increased up to 10 DAT and showed a gradual diminishing pattern in TSS content in almost all treatments on 12 DAT and 14 DAT where maximum TSS (4.933 Brix) was found in 1% CaCl 2 and minimum TSS (3.466 Brix) was found in 200 ppm EO. Furthermore, minimum TA (0.21%) was observed in 200 ppm EO whereas maximum TA was found in tomatoes treated with 100% Asuro extract (0.36) at 14 days after treatment. Additionally, the highest content of Vitamin C (0.276 mgml -1 ) was recorded in tomatoes treated with 200 ppm of essential oil. There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in the TSS/TA ratio among treatments during the experiment where the highest ratio (21.08) was observed in 1% CaCl 2 and the lowest ratio (9.92) was obtained in 100% Asuro Extract at 14 days after treatment. The current study implies essential oils are potential alternatives to hazardous chemicals enhancing shelf life and safety for human health. It is advisable to carry out multiple experiments in a broader area using different varieties with various concentrations.