International Journal of Applied Sciences and Biotechnology

63-66

Authors: Milan Acharya

Conservation agriculture is resource conserving strategy for improving productivity and profitability of farming through efficient utilization of available resources with minimum foot print to the environment. Conservation Agriculture helps in carbon sequestration, soil erosion control, ground water recharge and moisture conservation. Conservation agriculture has been found to improve physical, chemical and biological properties of soil compared to conventional practices and ultimately helps in increasing nutrient and water use efficiency. Optimizing soil fertility and soil moisture simultaneously is possible through CA practice which ultimately increases resource use efficiency.

75-80

Authors: Nabin Sharma Poudel, Kapil Khanal

Viral diseases are the important diseases next to the fungal and bacterial in Nepal. The increase in incidence and severity of viral diseases and emergence of new viral diseases causes the significant yield losses of different crops in Nepal. But the research and studies on plant viral diseases are limited. Most of the studies were focused in viral diseases of rice (Rice tungro virus and Rice dwarf virus), tomato (Yellow leaf curl virus) and potato (PVX and PVY). Maize leaf fleck virus and mosaic caused by Maize mosaic virus were recorded as minor disease of maize. Citrus Tristeza Virus is an important virus of citrus fruit in Nepal while Papaya ringspot potyvirus, Ageratum yellow vein virus (AYVV), Tomato leaf curlJava betasatellite and Sida yellow vein Chinaalphasatellite were recorded from the papaya fruit. The Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) and Zucchini yellow mosaic potyvirus (ZYMV) are the viral diseases of cucurbitaceous crop reported in Nepal. Mungbean yellow mosaic India virus (MYMIV) found to infect the many crops Limabean, Kidney bean, blackgram and Mungbean. Bean common mosaic necrosis virus in sweet bean, Pea leaf distortion virus (PLDV), Cowpea aphid‐borne mosaic potyvirus (CABMV), Peanut bud necrosis virus (PBNV) in groundnut, Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV). Chili veinal mottle potyvirus (CVMV) and Tomatoyellow leaf curl gemini virus (TYLCV) were only reported and no any further works have been carried out. The 3 virus diseases Soyabean mosaic (SMV), Soybean yellow mosaic virus and Bud blight tobacco ring spot virus (TRSV) were found in soybean.

87-96

Authors: Bishal Bista, Sagar Dahal

In this modern era of chemicals, the haphazard use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides and weedicide is becoming a great concern. Accumulation and magnification of those toxic materials in soil is degrading soil health and also affects the human health indirectly. Hence, Agriculture is concentrating more towards organic, sustainable and eco-friendly measures of production. Provision of healthy organic products is a great challenge for modern agriculturist (Farmers). Organic farming relies on judicious use of FYM, Compost, Vermicompost, Green manures and several other factors. Green manures are organic sources for amelioration of soil physical, chemical and biological properties. Furthermore, Green manure conserves the soil available nutrients and suppresses the losses incurred due to erosion, leaching etc. Not only that, Green manure inhibits the several disease, pests and weeds.

103-109

Authors: M. Sakthipriya, S.S. Vishnu, S. Sujith, P. Rajesh Kumar, K K Sabu

Genetic diversity represents the heritable variation within and between populations of organisms. A better understanding of genetic diversity and its distribution is essential for its conservation and use. In this study the genetic diversity analysis was performed in 30 accessions of Centella asiatica (L.) Urb. using 10 SSR markers. C. asiatica is a tropical medicinal plant from Apiaceae family native to Southeast Asian countries. It is among the top herbs in the category of anti-aging and CNS drugs used worldwide. The whole plant and aerial parts are used widely in traditional and alternative medicines due to its ample pharmacological activities. The molecular screening through microsatellite markers showed low polymorphism (0.019) between the samples analyzed. Further studies, including the effect of environmental factors, genetic composition or possibility of inbreeding, are required to analyze the probable reason for the low variability exists in the species.

115-121

Authors: Pushpa Karna Mallick

In this study chromosome number determination and karyotype analysis of four species of genus Blumea from the family asteraceae was carried out. The specimen plants were collected from central parts of Nepal, namely Blumea fistulosa (Roxb.) Kurz, Blumea lacera var.glandulosa (DC.) Hook, Blumea lacera (Buem f.) DC. and Blumea laciniata DC were observed. The chromosome number in somatic cells were recorded to be 2n= 22 in Blumea fistulosa; 2n= 32 in Blumea lacera var.glandulosa; 2n=18 in Blumea lacera and Blumea laciniata. The range of chromosome length found to be 0.6 to 1.6 µm in Blumea fistulosa, 0.6 to 1.6µm in Blumea lacera var.glandulosa, 0.6 to 1.7 µm in Blumea lacera and 0.8 to 1.6 µm in Blumea laciniata. Karyotype formula for Blumea fistulosa is M12+ sm10, for Blumea lacera var. glandulosa is M14+sm14+ st4, for Blumea lacera is M14+ st2 and for Blumea laciniata is M12+ sm6 in Blumea laciniata. In this investigation a pair of satellite chromosome found in only one species Blumea fistulosa at the end of shot arm of chromosome. Mainly three types of chromosomes observed in this study having centromere at middle point, at sub-median region and at sub-terminal region. Numerical and structural variation in chromosome are evolutionary significance. Similarity in size of chromosomes and karyomorphology indicates the homogeneity of the taxa within this tribe.

127-131

Authors: Kapil Khanal

Ginger is the potential high value sub-sector in Nepal for small scale farmers’ livelihoods. In this context, this research was conducted in 2016 to analyze value chain of ginger sub-sector in Salyan district of Nepal. Dadagaun and Tharmare VDCs of Salyan were purposively selected for the study. Primary data were collected using semi-structured questionnaire for household survey as well as focus group discussion (FGD), key informant interview (KII) and rapid market appraisal (RMA) survey were used. Household level cross-sectional data from 140 households (70 from Dadagaun and 70 from Tharmare VDC) were sampled using simple random sampling technique. Descriptive statistics, and value chain analysis were used to analyse data. Average land under ginger cultivation was 1.62 ropani which was higher in Dadagaun (2.17 ropani) than Tharmare (1.07 ropani) and found statistically significance different at 1 percent level. The average marginal cost of fresh ginger was NRs. 12.15/kg. Local traders were the major market actor influencing the price of ginger and bargaining power as the major factor whereas farmers were seemed weaker in the value chain due to low bargaining power with lack of market information. Huge marketing margin (NRs. 94/kg) and low producers share (14.55%) showed that there was no strong linkage between the producers and traders. This study revealed that ginger value chain analysis in the study area found very unstructured and poor strengthening of business enabling environment, unorganized functional market chain and poor inputs and service provision.

137-141

Authors: Suman Lal Shrestha

The adsorption capacity of ferrous ions onto bio-sorbents prepared from two different types of bio-waste of banana peel (CABP) and sawdust (CASD) treated with sulfuric acid was studied using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. Result shows that the optimum pH value for about 99 % Fe (II) adsorption onto the CABP and CASD was found to be 3 and 4, respectively, after 5 hours or more contact time period. Both the Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption models are fitted to remove the Fe (II) ions from aqueous solution by the bio-adsorbent of CABP and CASD. The maximum adsorption capacities for the CABP and CASD were found to be about 34 and 116 mg/g, respectively. These results showed that the CASD seems to be more effective bio-adsorbent than the CABP to remove the Fe (II) ions from drinking or/and wastewaters.

152-157

Authors: Tonessia Dolou chalotte, Kotchi Valère, Gore Bi Boh Nestor, Kouassi Koffi Djinkin, Soro Lacina, Soumahin Eric Francis, Akaffou Doffou Selastique, Kouadio Yatty Justin, Aké Severin

In order to contribute to cotton cultivation sustainability in west central Côte d'Ivoire, a phytosanitary diagnostic study was conducted in 11 plots. It consisted of monitoring the sanitary condition of 10 rural plots and an experiment plot set up at the Research Farm of University Jean Lorougnon Guédé of Daloa according to the regular and careful inspection of cotton seed germination, seedling health and cotton plants throughout the growing season. The results obtained indicated that the cotton varieties used by farmers had very low germination with maximum number of healthy seedlings of 43.75 % in an experiment condition. Highest number of infected seedlings (24-51%) showing characteristic symptoms of seedling blight leading to their death was observed. Under cultivation, a variety of pests was identified on cotton plants. The most important were Bemisia tabaci, Jacobiella fasciali, Helicoverpa armigera, Dysdercus sp, Earias sp, Zonocerus Variegatus, Haritalodes derogata. The Species Zonocerus Variegatus and Haritalodes derogata proved to be devastating on the experimental plot where 100% loss was recorded. The main disease observed at flowering stages in cotton plants was cotton virescence disease. Although lowly infection were observed (0.11 -0.35%) cotton cultivation monitoring and management must be set up so as to prevent its expansion in the west central. Theses finding gives useful information to farmers to reduce cotton yield losses in west central Côte d'Ivoire.

164-168

Authors: Bibek Thapa, Keshab Raj Pande, Baburam Khanal, Santosh Marahatta

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of tillage practices, residue management and cropping system on soil properties at NMRP, Rampur, Chitwan from November 2015 to April 2016. The experiment was laid on Strip split design with combination of 12 different treatments i.e, zero tillage & conventional tillage as main plot in the strip, residue retention & residue removal as sub-plot factor and maize – wheat, maize + soybean – wheat & soybean – wheat cropping system as sub-sub plot factor. Three replications of the treatments were made. Soil sample before experiment and after harvest of wheat was taken (0-15cm). The experiment showed significant effect of zero tillage on organic carbon (2.169%) and on total soil nitrogen (0.112 %). Zero tillage with retention of residues is valuable tool for the conservation agriculture and helps in sustainability of soil however long-term research for the tillage management and residue retention should be conducted to highlight the major effects on change in properties of soil.

174-180

Authors: D. Rawat, R. Shah, D.B. Nepali, J.L. Yadav

An experiment was conducted, with objective to determine the feed consumption, final live weight, weight gain, feed efficiency and economy in broiler chicken fed with locally available low protein based diets (20 percent CP in starter and 18 percent CP in finisher) supplemented with methionine, lysine and homeopathic medicine alfalfa. For this hundred fifty day-old birds of commercial broiler (Vencobb) were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments(10 chicks/treatment) and replicated three times in CRD with treatments composition of low protein based diets (LPB) (T0), LPB+ 100g/100 met + 300g/100 lysine (T1), LPB + 200g/100 met +300g/100lysine (T2), LPB + Alfalfa 5ml/100 chicks 2 day in week with drinking water (T3) and LPB + Alfalfa 5ml/100 chicks 3 day in week with drinking water (T4). Synthetic methionine and lysine was used for supplementation of deficient amino acid. Same condition was applied in finisher diets of broiler chicken. The result showed that chicks fed with LPB in both starter and finisher diet had significantly (P<0.05) lower feed intake, final live weight , total weight gain, feed efficiency and income over feed and chicks cost (IOFCC) with compromising chicks fed with LPB with addition of methionine and lysine each and also homeopathic medicine alfalfa in starter and finisher period. Highest feed intake, final live weight, weight gain, feed efficiency was obtained with treatment (T1) followed by treatment (T2). However, positive growth response and better health status of chicks was also observed from supplementation of homeopathic medicine alfalfa with LPB and non-significant difference on Income Over Feed and Chicks Cost was obtained with treatment (T1). So, it was concluded that with supplemental methionine, lysine and alfalfa, the CP level of broiler chicks could be reduced up to 20 percent in starter and 18 percent in finisher diets without adverse effect on feed intake, final live weight, weight gain, feed efficiency and Income overfeed and chicks cost, provided under locally based feed ingredients.