It is assumed that the rice grain yields can be increased by using the optimum number of seedlings per hill during transplant. In order to know the effect of the number of seedlings hill-1 on the performance and yield of spring rice, a field experiment was conducted from February to June 2020 at Rajapur municipality, Bardiya, Nepal. The experiment was conducted in Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) comprising five treatments viz., one, two, three, four, and five seedlings hill-1 with four replications. Hardinath-1 variety of rice was used at a spacing of 20cm*20cm, with an individual plot size of 3m*2m. Data for growth parameters, yield attributes, and yield were collected. All the data was entered and tabulated using MS-Excel while Analysis of variation and mean separation was done using R-Studio. The effect of number of seedlings hill-1 on yield and most of the yield attributing characters was found to be significant. Two seedlings hill-1 had the greatest plant height (94.78 cm), highest tiller per meter square (358.75), effective tiller per meter square (303.75), panicle length (24.27 cm), and the number of filled grains per panicle (120.43). Grain yield and straw yield (6.57 t/ha and 10.18 t/ha) were also highest at two seedlings per hill. Economic parameters like production cost, gross return, the net return, and B:C ratio varied significantly with the number of seedlings hill-1. The highest production cost (74.36 thousand NRs. ha-1) incurred at five seedlings hill-1 and gross return (177.39 thousand NRs. ha-1), net return (105.67 thousand NRs. ha-1), and B:C ratio (2.47) was highest at two seedlings hill-1.

A study was conducted in Shivasatakshi municipality of Jhapa district to assess the economic impact of agricultural mechanization in rice farming in 2020. Altogether, 40 rice farmers were selected randomly and surveyed using a semi-structured interview schedule. Based on the use of machinery, farmers were categorized into mechanized and non-mechanized farmers. Cost and revenue were calculated among both categories. T-test was used to compare the mean cost and revenue between mechanized and non-mechanized rice farmers. The average cost of production of rice was NRs.87,215.50/ha. The cost of human labor was found higher in both categories (more than 40%). The average total cost of production was lower in mechanized farms (NRs.67,191.74/ha) as compared to non-mechanized farms (NRs. 1, 07,239.27/ha). The contribution of rice grain and straw to the overall revenue was 98.53% and 1.46% respectively. The average revenue from production was calculated to be NRs.1, 21,879.25/ha. The average gross revenue was greater in mechanized farms (NRs.1,26,042.90/ha) than non-mechanized farms (NRs. 1, 22,067.00/ha). The benefit-cost ratio was observed higher in the mechanized rice farms (1.898) than non-mechanized farms (1.143). The findings of the study showed that mechanized rice farming reduced the cost of production by lowering down human labor cost and increased the profitability of the enterprise. Therefore, it is recommended to adopt machinery for rice cultivation in Shivasatakshi municipality, Jhapa.

The suitability of crop varieties in a particular location determines the productivity of crops. A field experiment was conducted from February to May 2020 at Shankharapur, Kathmandu, Nepal to evaluate the growth and productivity of potato varieties with and without mulch. Five potato varieties (Cardinal, Janakdev, Khumal Bikas, MS- 42.3, Panauti Local) were evaluated under straw-mulch and no-mulch conditions. The treatments were arranged in two factorial Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with 3 replications. The results revealed that the highest tuber yield was produced by Janakdev (34.29 t ha-1) followed by Panauti Local (29.52 t ha-1). Similarly, straw-mulch gave higher yield (25.9 t ha-1) as compared with no mulch condition (21.73 t ha-1). The higher tuber yield in the Janakdev and Panauti Local was because of higher tuber weight per hill, higher number and weight of medium size (50 -100 g) and oversize (> 100 g) tuber per hill. Similarly, higher yield in straw mulch was due to higher number and weight of tuber per hill. Higher gross return, net return was observed and the benefit cost ratioin varieties Janakdev (4.08) and Panauti Local (3.53) and rice straw mulch (2.88). Therefore, potato varieties Janakdev and Panauti Local with straw mulch are most suitable for Kathmandu like climate for improving productivity and profitability.