Invasion of alien weed species is one of the most serious global problems. Different bioclimatic conditions of Nepal favor the introduction of different invasive alien weeds. Mikania micrantha (L.) Kunth is one of the well-established invasive alien weeds in the tropical and subtropical parts of eastern and central Nepal. M. micrantha was first reported in 1963 in the eastern part of Nepal and then spreading towards the western part, which is now recorded in over 20 Terai districts of Nepal. Its spread is causing a serious threat to native ecosystem and in the protected areas too, such as the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve and the Chitwan National Park. It invades new areas by seed dispersal and, once established, it spreads locally by ramets produced by penetrating rosette caudices and ramet caudexes. This neotropical vine supplants other plants and reduces biodiversity significantly by swamping vegetation and out competing native plants. Regeneration of other plants in its invaded area is restricted due to its high dispersal ability and adaptability to colonize in new habitat and difficult to control if once established. Several measures have been attempted in controlling this weed, but till date little success has been achieved in Nepal. It is important to identify the control measures which are: socially acceptable; economically viable and spatially suitable. There is consumption of extra human resources and time for clearance of Mikania in their cultivated lands and also an extra expenditure is required to avoid the impact of Mikania which is affecting livelihood of local people. As M. micrantha grows rapidly and conventional control measures are costly and time consuming, biological control is seen as a feasible, environmentally friendly and self-sustaining option to control large stands of M. micrantha. Coevolved rust pathogen, Puccinia spegazzini has been reported to be able to control the weed and introduced in countries like India, Taiwan, China, Papua New Guinea and Fiji.
A study was conducted to examine cost structure and economic feasibility of rubber production in Jhapa district. It also aimed to assess determinants of increment in acreage of rubber cultivation in the study area. A total of sixty two rubber growers were selected by simple random sampling and interviewed with pre-tested semi structured schedule on the month of March, 2019. Study revealed that the total cost of natural rubber production per hectare of rubber orchard was 499774.8 NRs. /year. It was found to be economically viable and cost effective as indicated by satisfactory values of Benefit Cost Ratio (1.5), Net Present Value of NRs. 686547 at a discount rate of 12 percent and Internal Rate of Return 18 percent. Probit model revealed that trainings received, experience of rubber farming, ethnicity and membership in community organizations were significant factors that positively affected farmers’ decision in expanding rubber cultivation area. Received trainings solely could increase probability of acreage increment by 36.9 percent. Thus, it is recommended that extension services like training, farmers’ field school, and farm visits should be intensified for increment of profitability from rubber farming in Jhapa, Nepal.
Background: Capsicums having high respiration, transpiration, and ethylene production rates along with high susceptibility to microbial growth deteriorate rapidly during storage leading to higher loss. The current study was conducted to assess the effects of Perforation mediated- modified atmospheric packaging (MAP) on shelf life and quality of calcium chloride treated bell pepper (Capsicum annum). Methods: For this purposed green mature fruits capsicum annum variety Indra were pretreated with calcium chloride, weighed 1kg and packed in Low-density polyethylene with no perforation (T1), LDPE with 4 perforations(T2), LDPE with 8 perforations(T3), LDPE with 12 perforations(T4), LDPE with 16 perforation(T5) and open tray (T6) and stored at ambient room temperature of laboratory. Three replications were maintained for each treatment with CRD Design and different parameters were evaluated during the study period. Result: Capsicum stored in perforated LDPE packet exhibited less weight loss, higher shelf life and higher vitamin C content compared to capsicum kept in an open tray. With less perforations weight loss was less. Moreover, LDPE with 16 perforations can be considered the best treatment because with higher numbers of pores it exhibited comparatively higher shelf life, optimum quality of fruits and also check the spoilage of the fruits as compared to all treatments.
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