Spring rice (Oryza sativa L.) plays a crucial role as Nepal’s primary staple cereal crop. It has a high potential as an alternative during low rice production in the main season, ensuring food self-sufficiency. A field study was conducted on spring rice at a farmer field school, Kailari Rural Municipality-09, Kailali district, Nepal to identify the best-performing and the most preferred genotypes by the farmers through the participatory approach. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with twelve spring rice genotypes including a local check variety. Each treatment was replicated thrice. Statistically significant differences in yield and yield-attributing traits were observed among the genotypes under observation. Average plant height was recorded as the highest in Hardinath-3 (101.75 cm) followed by IR17L1387 (99.78 cm), Jhumka (98.74 cm), and IR17A3019 (96.55 cm) with the lowest in IR16A3838 (84.79 cm). Similarly, the total number of tillers and effective tillers were found to be the greatest in IR18A1451 and IR17A3019 respectively at harvest. The sterility percentage was lowest in IR17A3012 followed by IR17A3019 whereas highest in Hardinath-4. Similarly, the Hardinath-1 variety matured earlier than, IR16A3838 and IR17A3019. Hardinath-4 variety followed by Jhumka was a late maturing variety. Maximum grain yield was found in IR17A3012 (6.06 t ha-1) which was followed by IR17A3019 (5.97 t ha-1) and superior to the local check variety (Jhumka). Thus, the farmers’ preference score was found to be maximum (0.09) in the IR17A3019 genotype which signifies that this genotype has certain preferable traits such as early and uniform maturity, low disease and pest attack, a high number of effective tillers, panicle length, and sterility percentage.

The pandemic has profoundly disrupted the stability of the agri-food supply chain, primarily due to the inconsistent supply reaching the market caused by movement restrictions. This economic downturn is influenced by losses along the business supply chain and has prompted a closer examination in this study. The focus is on the specifics of post-harvest losses of watermelons, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 recovery phase. The watermelon is selected for scrutiny due to its status as the second-largest high-value crop in SSL after papaya (increasing by 142.3% in 2022). This choice indicates that the local production sufficiently satisfies domestic demand and is also available for export. The study reveals that losses contribute to almost 69.4%, resulting in a reduction of 2.0 metric tonnes from the pre-pandemic situation, where losses were around 1.0 to 1.2 metric tonnes. These losses are attributed to delays in distribution, especially at the farm level, due to distribution restrictions and a shortage of labour for harvesting. Overall, these findings aim to provide insights for industry players on how to handle future crises by developing backup plans to reduce losses.

A worldwide indication of the amount of water used in the manufacturing cycle of commodities is called the “Water Footprint.” The entire amount of freshwater used or contaminated throughout a commodity’s manufacturing is known as its “water footprint.” Water consumption mostly refers to the amount of water that plants need during the growth season (green and blue water), whereas water pollution (gray water) is primarily caused by fertilizer seeping from the field. To investigate the effects of varying irrigation and nitrogen dosage levels on vegetative growth characteristics, yield parameters, and chemical contents, an experiment was conducted on garlic plants during the two winter seasons of 2020–2021 and 2021–2022, at the Central Laboratory for Agricultural Climate (CLAC) research site, Dokki, Giza, Egypt. To investigate the effects of varying irrigation levels and nitrogen doses on vegetative growth characteristics, yield parameters, and chemical contents of garlic. The nitrous oxide (N2O) and water footprint (WFP) emissions were estimated using the collected data. Two elements make up the treatments: three main plots with irrigation levels of 80, 100, and 120% of the required water, and three subplots with nitrogen levels of 60, 80, and 100 kg doses, each three duplicated in a split-plot design. The findings demonstrated that under irrigation, the highest vegetative growth parameters, yield parameters, and chemical composition of leaves were observed. The results demonstrated that, at an irrigation level of 120% of the water requirements and 100 kg of nitrogen dose for the garlic plant, the highest vegetative growth characteristics, yield parameters, and chemical contents of leaves were recorded. The relationship between nitrogen doses and irrigation levels reveals that, when combined, 120% irrigation levels and 100 kg of nitrogen dose produced high yield parameters, vegetative growth characteristics, and chemical content in the leaves; this was followed by 100% irrigation levels and 100 kg of nitrogen dose with notable differences between the two. In all measurements, the combination of 80% irrigation levels and a 60kg nitrogen injection yielded the lowest value. Under 120% irrigation and 60 kg of nitrogen fertilizer, the water footprint for the output of fresh and cured garlic was higher, measuring 628 m3/ton and 959 m3/ton, respectively. The maximum emission of N2O with 100 kg of nitrogen and an irrigation level of 80%, the highest N2O emission value for cured garlic yield, was reported at 0.283 kg N2O per ton of cured garlic output, or 84.5 kg CO2/ton. With 100 kg of nitrogen and an irrigation level of 80%, the greatest N2O emission value for fresh garlic output was reported at 0.190 kg N2O per ton, or 56.7 kg CO2/ton.

Climate change affects agricultural productivity because it impacts agroclimatic factors such as soil physical, chemical, and biological properties, rainfall, temperature, irradiation, and carbon dioxide concentrations. Climate change’s adverse impacts warrant studies showing how these factors influencing crop productivity can be sustainably managed in an altered climate. This study tested the effectiveness of biochar obtained from pyrolyzed sugarcane leaves collected from the field following mechanical harvesting. The biochar was applied in the soil alone or in combination with NPK fertilizer and planted with Oryza longstaminata. Farmyard manure was included as a common soil amendment to compare the results. Eight treatments were replicated four times and set up in a completely randomized design (CRD) under greenhouse conditions. Watering was done twice daily, and soil samples were taken after four months. During sampling, soil from only three replicates were removed, placed on a canvas and homogenized, and a 500 g each was taken for processing. The samples from the three replicates were mixed again and air-dried for two days, and triplicate (n=3) samples were taken again, placed in separate paper bags per replicate and sent to the laboratory for analysis and measurements using standard analytical procedures. The data from the replicates of the treatments were pooled, averages taken, and analyzed statistically. The results showed biochar application had no significant effect on soil pH, electrical conductivity, organic matter content, and carbon stock even when planted, compared to the effects on water holding capacity, bulk density, and total porosity. Consequently, there was no significant effect on soil nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, magnesium, and the calcium contents. The results were the opposite when co-application with the chemical NPK fertilizer was made. To a large extent, our results showed biochar interaction is quite effective when co-application is made with another nutrient source, and the findings have implications for the management of sandy loam soil under humid lowland tropical climatic conditions.

Purpose: is to enhance the nutrients use efficiency (NUE) along with the crop yield and quality by magnetic treatment (MT) of the groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) seeds pre-sowing as well as the MT of water used to dissolve the nitrogen (N) fertilizer under sandy soil field conditions. Methods: Treatments were distributed in a split-plots design in triplicates. The control CL has received the recommended dose RD of the N-fertilizer while other treatments received a 50% of the RD applied to the surface soil 30 days after planting. The main factor (F1) was the N-application rates 1000, 2000, and 3000 mg kg-1 of urea dissolved in the magnetically treated water (MTW) then sprayed on the soil in the liquid form five times after planting. The sub-factor (F2) was the time of MT (15, 30, and 45 min) of the groundnut seeds exposed to a magnetic field MF 1.4 T intensity before planting. Results: The soil available N, P, K, Fe, Mn, and Zn (mg kg-1) were increased significantly by 34.8%, 23.0%, 3.49%, 9.4%, 22.2%, and 23.2% respectively, at P ≤ 0.05 by the 45 min MT and 3000 mg kg-1 N relative to its corresponding control (CL). The MT has increased the seeds yield (kg ha-1) significantly in the order 45 min >30 min >15 min for the N-rates 1000, 2000, and 3000 mg kg-1. At the 45-min time, it was increased by 17.5, 15.3, and 14.8% for the N-rates, respectively. Conclusions: The 2000 mg kg-1 rate with MT of seeds for 15 min can be recommended for an acceptable nutrients use efficiency (NUE).

This research aimed to determine the best combination of nitrogen levels and hybrid varieties for optimal growth and yield of hybrid maize in Sundar bazar municipality, Lamjung, Nepal. The study used a two-factor factorial randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 12 treatments and three replications. The treatments consisted of two hybrid maize varieties (Rampur Hybrid-10 and CP 808) and six different levels of nitrogen doses (control, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240 kg N ha-1). The results showed that the growth and yield parameters of hybrid maize varieties increased significantly with increasing nitrogen levels. The application of nitrogen at the rate of 240 kg N ha-1 produced the highest plant height, number of leaves, leaf area index (LAI), stem diameter, thousand grain test weight, grain per cob, grain yield, biological yield, and harvest index. Even a small difference of 30 kg of nitrogen ha-1 within a treatment showed a significant effect on the growth and yield parameters of hybrid maize. The control plot had the least growth and yield parameters. The hybrid maize variety CP 808 outperformed Rampur Hybrid-10 in terms of grain yield, thousand grain test weight, cob length, grain per cob, and LAI. In conclusion, this study suggests that cultivating hybrid maize variety CP-808 with the use of nitrogen at the rate of 240 kg ha-1 is optimal for maize production in Sundar bazar, Lamjung, and mid-hills of Nepal with similar altitude and climatic conditions. This information can assist maize farmers in achieving high yields and increasing their income.

This study examined factors influencing sorghum output in Ethiopia using ARDL model over the period 1981 to 2020. The elasticity coefficient of crop growing period mean temperature showed negatively significant impact on sorghum production in the long-run, aligning with theory. Conversely, main-season rainfall had positively significant impact on sorghum output, contrasting with the theory. Among non-climatic variables, sorghum price and area under sorghum had affirmatively considerable contribution to sorghum production as expected in theory. In the short-run, mean temperature revealed negatively significant impact on sorghum production, supporting the theory. Conversely, the main season rainfall and area under sorghum production demonstrated positively significant impact on sorghum production. Furthermore, sorghum output is positively responsive to own price during the second lag differences, implying that any price incentive strategy should be released before the last year. Equally, sorghum output is positively responsive to fertilizers applied in the first lag, which implies that fertilizers applied on sorghum cultivation during first lag difference have positive contribution to sorghum output supply. In view of the results of the current study, it is strongly recommended that the government should come up with strategies and policies that help sorghum farmers to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Sugarcane is a cash crop typically cultivated for sugar. Due to climate change, there is a rise in temperature, disruption in the rainfall patterns and cycle of seasons. Such changes in weather parameters affect sugarcane production as well as sugar recovery from the canes. The study was conducted in Uttar Pradesh, India using GIS (Geographic Information System) based models and statistical multiple linear regression from districtwise data on yield and climatic parameters over the study period (1986 to 2015). The GIS models reveal that climatic factors like rainfall, temperature and evapotranspiration changed significantly throughout the study.The multiple linear regression model shows that such changes in climatic parameters have a significant impact on the yield of sugarcane. Graphical analysis of yearly data on temperature and sugar recovery (%) showed that temperature affects the amount of sugar recovered from the canes. The study aims to illustrate the evidence of climate change and its impact on sugarcane production in Uttar Pradesh.

Purpose: This study investigated the suitability of nine common market food wastes in Nigeria for rearing Hermetia illucens. Methods: Substrate suitability was determined through periodic assessment for survival, and measurement of body length, width and weight of H. illucens on each substrate in the laboratory. Results: Survival of H. illucens larvae and pre-pupae on maize flour, cowpea flour, over-ripe banana peels, amaranth leaves, watermelon peels, and bread was comparable to the control substrate (chicken feed). In contrast, survival of larvae to pre-pupae on cabbage and pineapple flesh was significantly lower than on the control. Generally, larvae and adults reared on chicken feed had significantly higher body size and weight compared to those on pineapple flesh or pineapple peels. Conclusion: Due to their inherently high moisture, low protein and low carbohydrate contents, pineapple flesh and pineapple peels are the least suitable substrates for H. illucens survival and growth in the study.