Malaysian Journal of Sustainable Agriculture (MJSA)

Seed priming is an effective, eco-friendly method to promote seed germination and seedling vigor of okra to overcome the reduced and delayed germination in fresh or stored okra seeds caused by seed hardness. An experiment was carried to evaluate the effects of different priming on okra seeds germination and seedling vigor using Arka Anamika variety at Horticulture lab of Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal. Investigation was carried out with 6 treatments (T₁: seed priming with tap water, T₂: seed priming with 200ppm NAA solution, T₃: seed priming with 10% PEG-200 solution, T₄: seed priming with 200ppm GA₃ solution, T₅: seed priming with 5% Trichoderma solution and T₆ no priming) with 4 replications in Complete Randomized Design (CRD). Seeds primed with T₁ to T₅ were soaked for 24 hours and shade dried for 6 hours before sowing. Priming with T₄ was found to be best in terms of maximum seed germination (60.12%), seed vigor index (5772.68 cm), mean germination rate (7.53 seeds per day). The highest shoot length (81.40 mm) was observed at T₁ whereas enhancement of root length occurred with the priming with T₃. All treatments had a significant positive effect on all the germination parameters in comparison to control. The study concluded that GA₃ priming enhanced germination as well as seed vigor in okra and hydro priming and tricho-priming can be used as an alternative to GA₃ priming among farmers in Nepal.

For feed producers who suffer from high intolerance to production costs, the only way to cope with the condition is to avoid devices that drive up costs. Extruded feed processed from a clay-slate dryer through a fluidized bed could be used to make fish feed. The aim of the study was optimise the process conditions on the clay-slate fluidized bed dryer operating at a commercial production of fish feed using the response surface methodology. The fish feed composition were processed at bed height (50-200 mm), drying air temperature (60–120°C), airflow velocity (0.66-0.70 m/s), drying time (10–90 min) and extrudates size (4–8 mm). Product quality parameters such as moisture ratio and dryer efficiency were determined and analyzed. Second-order polynomial equations, containing all the process variables, were used to measured process. Moisture ratio was influenced mostly by linear relationship temperature and drying time. The temperature and the quadratic temperature conditions significantly affected the efficiency of the dryer. For the fluidized bed drying of extruded fish feed, optimal conditions were set for the bed height of 185.76 mm, a temperature of 97.2°C, an air flow rate of 0.67, a drying time of 65.36 min and an extrudate size of 7.40 mm recommended. At these conditions the moisture ratio and efficiency were 0.86 and 74.39, respectively. The influence of the various components of the fluidized bed dryer on the drying rate must be better understood so that control systems can be developed to take full advantage of this technology.

This study was conducted to assess the fertility status of different altitude of apple orchard and their effect upon soil nutrients and to study the relationship between different altitude and their availability. Seven different orchards located in 2800, 2700 2600, 2500, 2400, 2300 and 2200 at Apple Zone, Raskot, Kalikot were selected as treatments. They were replicated three times in Randomized Complete Block Design. Composite soil samples were collected in each study site from 0-3 ft soil depth in ‘W’ pattern from each plot. Analyses of soil samples were done in regional soil testing laboratory, Surkhet for chemical properties. There was a significant effect (p<0.05) of altitude on soil macronutrients except available potassium level. Maximum amounts of soil organic matter, acidic and soil rich in nitrogen and phosphorus were found in 2800 masl whereas more basic soil , poor soil organic matter and soil poor in nitrogen and phosphorus were found in 2200 masl. Result showed that in altitude of 2200 masl has poor soil nutrients compared to apple orchards in higher altitude. Kalikot is the top producer of apple in Nepal. This assessment will helps apple growers for adopting better nutrient management plan in their orchards according to the altitude in the district. Further, it is recommended to conduct soil nutrient assessments for all other apple growing regions in the country.

A study was conducted at AFU livestock farm, Rampur, Chitwan in 2017-18 to determine the effect of dietary supplementation of garlic and ginger in different combination on feed intake, growth performance and economics by using commercial Cobb 500 broilers. A total of two hundred, 11-day-old chicks were allocated randomly to five different treatments. The experiment was designed in a Completely Randomized Design, each treatment with four replication and each replication had 10 birds. They were fed isoproteinous and isocaloric Basal diet (BD) and BD supplemented with four different levels of garlic and ginger such as T1 (BD only), T2 (BD + 1% garlic); T3 (BD + 1.0% ginger); T4 (BD + 0.5% garlic and 0.5% ginger) and T5 (BD + 1% garlic and 1% ginger). Weekly average body weight, weight gain, feed consumption, and feed efficiency were recorded up to sixth week of age. All data were statistical analyzed using Completely Randomized Design. The results showed that overall feed consumption was significantly (P≤0.05) higher for broiler fed diet supplemented with 0.5% garlic and 0.5% ginger (T4) followed by T5 (basal diet with 1% garlic and 1% ginger). On the other hand significantly higher (P≤0.01) cumulative weekly live body weight and body weight gain (g/bird) was found for the treatment with supplemented 1% garlic powder (T2), followed by broiler fed diet supplemented with 0.5% garlic and 0.5% ginger powder (T4). Similarly, feed conversion ratio was significantly (P≤0.01) better in broiler fed basal diet with supplementation of 1% garlic (T2) followed by basal diet with supplementation of 0.5% garlic and 0.5% ginger (T4). The maximum benefit was obtained from the broiler fed basal diet with supplementation of 1% garlic (T2). The findings revealed that broiler fed basal diet with supplementation of 1% garlic powder had helped as a growth promoter contributing to the better growth performance, feed efficiency and higher benefit: cost ratio. Thus, addition of 1% garlic powder can be safely recommended as a growth promoter in broilers.

Changes in soil organic matter (SOM) are slow and difficult to monitor, usually apparent after few decades. Recent changes in the agriculture had its influence on soil, including the soil organic matter content. About 60% of soil in Nepal now have low organic matter content. Agriculture Perspective Plan (APP) was focused more on the concept of green revolution to increase the chemical fertilizer inputs, however, the scenario is changing. Use of organic fertilizers is promoted extensively by government and different organizations with a target of increasing SOM content from 1.92% in 2015 to 4% by 2035. This paper aims at analysing the current status, targeted goal and the challenges faced in the augmentation of the soil organic matter using data available. Achieving this target requires an addition of extra 2.244 ton/ha of organic matter on a yearly basis for 20 years. The average amount of organic matter (2.5-3 ton/ha) applied is lesser than a single season grain harvest. 4.69% of sites had high soil organic matter in fiscal year 075/76 which slipped to 2.64% in 2076/77. The sites with low soil organic matter increased from 12.73% to 15.31%. The causes behind the SOM decline varies according to different agro-ecological zones like soil erosion, residue burning, imbalanced fertilizer use, defective FYM production etc. Findings suggest precise technologies required to be adopted to tackle with the different niche specific causes of soil fertility decline. Despite the complete nutrient content, bulky nature of organic fertilizers sets a major drawback regarding their transportation, distribution and commercialization. Government of Nepal is promoting organic fertilizer use by subsidizing their production cost by 50%. Following integrated nutrient management (INM) techniques, sustainable soil management practices (SSMP) and promotion of use of locally available resources can play a huge role in making the technology sustainable to the farmers.

Durio zibethinus, commonly known as Durian, is an exotic Southeast Asian tropical fruit. More than the pungent aroma the fruit is well-known for, it is said to be beneficial to health as it contains many antioxidants and bioactive compounds that have different potentials for positive impacts on health. However, there is scant existing literature which gives an overview on the amounts of bioactive compounds in several varieties of durian in Southeast Asia, and the relevant health benefits. This review article therefore seeks to consolidate the literature which have identified bioactive compounds and investigated antioxidant activities in durian cultivars from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand and China, and studies that have given insight on potential medicinal properties of durians. A literature review was conducted using databases Scopus and ScienceDirect and a total of 30 articles were reviewed. Total polyphenols and flavonoids were highest in the Mon Thong cultivar compared to other Thailand varieties, and ripe or overripe durians were found to contain the highest amounts of polyphenols and flavonoids. Durians were also found to contain medicinal properties, such as anti-inflammatory and antidiabetic potential, and protective effects on cardiac health. Further research on these bioactive compounds in the nutritious fruit with potential medicinal properties can contribute to the medicinal value of durians, as well as benefit the pharmaceutical industries.

Mango is one of the major fruit crops of Terai region of Nepal; however, farmers are experiencing poor productivity. Therefore, a study was conducted to determine the factors affecting the productivity and major constraints of the mango production in Saptari district of Nepal. Pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire was administered among randomly selected 106 farmers from the district of Nepal. Face to face interview was scheduled to obtain the data from sampled farmers from March 26 to May 25, 2020. Multiple regressions were used to access the various factors affecting the productivity of the mango. The regression model depicted that the total number of productive trees and training on commercial mango production was found statistically significant at 1% level of significance. A unit change in the total number of productive trees was found to change the productivity by 0.94 units. Additionally, one-unit change in the trainings regarding commercial mango farming caused the change in productivity by 0.53 units. Further, incidence of diseases and pests, poor access to market, lack of irrigation facility, incidences of natural hazards and modicum of fertilizers on orchard were the major production constraints of mango in Spatari district of Nepal. Therefore, the study has suggested indispensable need training on commercial mango cultivation practices in Saptari district of Nepal.

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.