Scarcity of water has been a serious agricultural hindrance to crop productivity since antiquity. Drought-stressed loss in wheat yield likely exceeds losses from all other causes, since both the severity and duration of the stress are censorious. Here, we have reviewed the effects of drought stress on the morphological, physiological, and biochemical attributes along with the growth impacts, water relations, and photosynthesis impacts in wheat. This review also illustrates the mechanism of drought resistance in wheat. Historical drought years in Nepal have been identified and the yield losses were assessed. Wheat encounters a variety of morphological, physiological, biochemical responses at cellular and molecular levels towards prevailing water stress, thus making it a complex phenomenon. Drought stress affects leaf size, stems elongation and root proliferation, imbalance plant-water relations and decline water-use efficiency. Different types of physiological research are ongoing to find out the changes occurs in the wheat plant as a result of drought stress. Morphological changes can be looked through two ways: changes in root system and changes in shoot system such as effects on height, leaf senescence, flowering, and so on. Physiological changes involve changes in cell growth pattern, chlorophyll contents, photosynthetic disturbances, plant-water relations, etc. Biochemical changes occur in different chemical, biomolecules, and enzymes. Plants portray several mechanisms to withstand drought stress which can be classified as Drought escape, Drought avoidance, and Drought tolerance. Selection of wheat genotype that can tolerate water scarcity would be suitable for the breeding program aiming to development of drought tolerant variety under water limited regions.

The study specifically investigated farm size efficiency differentials of bio-fortified cassava production in Nigeria. Data were collected through a cross-sectional survey of bio-fortified cassava producers in Nigeria. The estimated coefficients of the parameters of production variables for small scale bio-fortified cassava farm size (land, herbicide and fertilizer) played a major role in bio-fortified cassava production on a small scale in Nigeria. For the medium and large scale bio-fortified cassava farm size, production variables (land, labor and fertilizer) and (land, labor, herbicide and fertilizer) respectively played a major role in bio-fortified cassava production. The average economic efficiency of the small, medium and large scale bio-fortified cassava producers was 42%, 54% and 63% respectively. Policies intended to increase the popularization and cultivation of bio-fortified cassava in Nigeria should be targeted toward the small and medium scale cassava farmers since they carried the majority of the producer of bio-fortified cassava in Nigeria.

The study examined the costs and returns to bio-fortified cassava production and forecast the future farm size of bio-fortified cassava production in Oyo State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used to select our respondents. Primary data were used for the study which were collected through a well-structured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive, Markov chain, and budgetary analysis. The result of the study showed that TMS 01/0593, TMS 01/0539 and TMS 01/0220 were the mostly grown varies of bio-fortified cassava varieties in Oyo State, Nigeria. The result of the budgetary analysis showed that the average net return (net farm income) from the production of bio-fortified cassava was ₦196710.95 with RORI of 224.95%. The result revealed that at 35% increase in cost of production, the rate of return on investment dropped to 140.70% in which the investment will not be viable. The bio-fortified cassava farmers have a great potential to boost production through increases in farm sizes of the bio-fortified cassava famers until the year 2026 when equilibrium would be attained at about 2.85ha. In order to adequately achieve these goals, more improved varieties of bio-fortified cassava should be provided. Consequently, infrastructures should be put in place to help boost farmers moral in their cause of production.

Plants are naturally growing on the soil without hampering the eco-friendly environment. Intensive cultivation of crops with high yielding verities (HYV) hampering the soil health resulting unfertile soil. In addition, frequent uses of chemicals as well as overdose of synthetic fertilizer creating hazardous environment for the living things. However, to meet up the demand of foods as well as other basic requirements of increasing population of the world crop cultivation techniques need to be modernized. To overcome this situation, application of organic fertilizer need to apply regularly. Biochar can be a good source of organic fertilizer and it is currently using to improve the soil health globally. To examine the effect of biochar on jute growth and yield an experiment was set up in two different locations (Jute Agriculture Experimental Station (JAES), Manikganj, and Jute Research Sub Station (JRSS), Jashore of Bangladesh) during the period from August to December, 2019. Results revealed that location (JAES) had significant and positive effect on jute physiology and seed yield and as well as seed quality. Among fourteen treatments, treatment T2 (Recommended dose of fertilizer (RDF)) showed the highest plant height (163.5 cm), base diameter (7.44 mm) and pod per plant (16.5) compare to the rest treatments. Treatment T6 (RDF 75% + 25%biochar@3.0tonha-1) showed the best seed weight (2.13 g) and seed yield/ plant (3.98 g) among all treatments. Interaction among treatments and locations, T2 x L2 affected seed germination (99%) and field emergence (92.33%) positively. From this research it was cleared that biochar alone may not enough but combination is required for improving jute seed yield and quality.

Soil is a fundamental natural resource that is vital to the sustainable development of human societies. However, in many developing countries, increased intensity of use and inadequate land use planning has put a lot of pressure on marginal soil, leading to various forms of land degradation. The purpose of this study is to generate an integrated the land cover and terrain classification of the Ban Dan Na Kham watershed of Northern Thailand as a tool for sustainable land use planning. The watershed boundary and slope classes were delineated using the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) Digital Elevation Model (DEM). The slope was subsequently classified into gentle (<8o), moderate (8-30o) and steep (>30o). The land cover map was generated through the supervised classification of Sentinel2 satellite imagery. Both map products were then integrated to provide the basis for land allocation and land use planning. The results show that 58 % of land currently under arable farming is either marginally suitable or practically unsuitable for that purpose. This ultimately leads to increased land degradation and soil loss. The land should consequently be reforested. Nevertheless, up to 10 km2 of the watershed that is dedicated to other land use types – almost twice the current arable land area – is suitable for arable cropping. As such, given the proposed reforestation of the marginal and unsuitable arable lands, a large proportion of suitable land is still available to make up for the deficit. This will ultimately lead to increased productivity and reduced land degradation.

Municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) is considered as one of the prominent fertilizers that improve soil health and productivity. To evaluate the effects of MSWC on plant growth, an experiment was conducted by using sole MSWC and with a combination of inorganic fertilizer. The sole MSWC was applied at the rate of 0, 5, 10, 15 t ha-1. In case of MSWC with inorganic fertilizer, MSWC was applied equally (5 t ha-1) and phosphorus and potassium fertilizers were applied at 100 and 50 kg ha-1, respectively. Nitrogen was the only variable nutrient. Nitrogen was applied three different doses (25, 50 and 100 kg ha-1) along with control. Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) was grown as experimental plant and maximum yield (72.7±6.3 t ha-1) of tomato was found when sole MSWC was applied at 15 t ha-1 and was significantly higher than other treatments. When MSWC was applied in combination with inorganic fertilizer, the combination 5 t ha-1 MSWC +100 kg N ha-1 +100 kg TSP ha-1 +50 kg MoP ha-1 produced maximum yield (79.0±3.2 t ha-1). So, application of sole MSWC in soil enhanced the productivity of soil and side by side, MSWC in combination with inorganic fertilizer reduced the volume of MSWC application.

Seed perform a vital role in agricultural sector for crop production as well as seed business. Scarcity of healthy seed hinder not only the crop production but also the quality of seed. Storing of healthy seed with proper storing condition is one of the suitable methods to maximize production however, healthy seed also lose its quality during seed storage. Seed remains viable for long time if the seed stored by maintaining seed moisture content, storage temperature with storage container. So, this experiment was carried out to observe the quality parameters of jute seed during long term storing. To find out the storage effect an experiment was conducted on march, 2020 at seed laboratory, Jute Agriculture Experimental Station, Jagir, Manikganj, Bangladesh during the period of January 2016 to March, 2020. Plastic pot was used in this experiment as a storage container to store jute seeds. Three tossa jute (C. olitorius L.) varieties viz., O-795 (V1), O-9897 (V2) and OM-1 (V3) were used in this study. Result revealed that storage period and jute variety showed significant effect on different seed quality parameters. The highest seed germination, field emergence, seed vigour and the lowest 1000-seed weight, moisture content were recorded in T5 (2019-20) treatment. On the other hand, the lowest seed germination, field emergence, seed vigour and the highest 1000-seed weight, moisture content were recorded in T1 (2015-2016) treatment. Furthermore, seed germination, field emergence, seed vigour was negatively but 1000-seed weight was positively correlate with moisture content. Results revealed that extended storage period caused the decreasing seed quality and seed can be stored for three years in plastic container without hampering the seed quality.

Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus, 1758)- Black soldier fly is a beneficial insect which has been used in simple systems, to treat organic waste efficiently and rapidly, and to produce animal feed ingredient and fertilizer as end products. These flies are naturally found in warmer parts of the globe. The incidence of Black soldier fly was recorded for the first time in Nepal in between April and May 2020 in the sub urban area of Chitwan District, Nepal. Identification of the insect was done in the Laboratory of Department of Entomology, Faculty of Agriculture, Agriculture and Forestry University, Nepal. Both adult and larval forms of the insect were identified based on the study of morphological characteristics of captured specimens using simple microscope and stereomicroscope. The record of this insect in Nepal opens up a new dimension for its use in bio-systems to treat organic waste and produce more sustainable ingredient for animal feeding, and rich fertilizer to be used in agriculture.

Potato is the third major food crop in the world. In Northern Bangladesh, potato production outside the regular growing season can contribute to farmers’ profit and prices can be very favorable as consumers’ demand for potatoes is greater than the decreased, off-season supply. However, potato production may be negatively affected by increased pest and disease pressure and higher soil temperature. We hypothesized that some potato varieties would have smaller tuber yield reduction when they are grown outside the normal season. The objective of this experiment was to find out promising genotypes for earlier cultivation prior to mid of November, cultivation in northern regions of Bangladesh. The trials, corresponding to very early, early, normal and late growing seasons were planted using a randomized complete block design with three replications. Germination percent, plant height, stems per hill, marketable tuber yield at 65 days, marketable tuber yield at 90 days were recorded. For yield and components of yield contributing characters Clone 13.17, BARI Alu 7(Diamant) and Arizona outperformed in all growing condition and had wider adaptability and stability of tuber yield based on Additive main effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI).

Fall armyworm has been recently introduced to Nepal. In a very less time, the invasive pest has rapidly spread throughout the country causing 21% of yield loss in the total production of maize. It has the potential to attack all the crop stages of maize. If the effect of fall armyworm is neglected, it can result in the loss of 53% in the total production threatening food security and living of millions of farming households. Keeping the fact in mind, two blocks from the Tikapur Municipality of Kailali district, Nepal were surveyed to understand the infestation status of FAW in maize, farmer’s perception, implemented management practices at the local level for its control, and its efficacy. Lack of knowledge regarding the identification and control measures has led to more than 50% of the household being infected by FAW. The average yield loss has reached 129.058 kg/ha in block 10 and 93.052 kg/ha in block 24. The average percentage of infestation has drooped to only 4.15% when all the measure of management was applied in an integrated way. Our study concluded that there is a pivotal need for extension knowledge to farmers on the identification of the pest, its life cycle, effective management practices, and tie for its implementation.