Nitrogen fertilizer and plant density are considered some of the most important factors affecting phenology and grain yield of maize. Therefore, current study was conducted to assess the effects of nitrogen fertilizer application and plant density on phenology (days to tasseling, silking and maturity) and grain yield of maize (Variety: Rampur Composite) at Mangalpur VDC-3, Anandapur, Chitwan, Nepal during 2006-07 winter season. The five levels of nitrogen as 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 kg N/ha and three levels of the plant population as 55555, 66666 and 83333 plants/ha were evaluated using two factorial randomized complete block design with three replications. The days of flowering (tasseling and silking) decreased with increasing nitrogen level up to 200 kg N/ha and increased with increasing level of plant population up to 83333 plants/ha). Physiological maturity and grain yield increased with increasing level of nitrogen up to 200 kg N/ha and plant population up to 83333 plants/ha. The highest grain yield (6925.79 kg/ha) was obtained with 200 kg N/ha + 66666 plants/ha. This study suggested that maize production can be maximized by cultivating maize with the use of 200 kg N/ha and maintaining the plant density of 66666 plants/ha.
Wheat is the third most important cereal crop in Nepal after rice and maize both in area and production, but its productivity of 2.3 tonne ha À1 is very less compared to other developed countries (6 tonne ha À1 for Switzerland and China) in the world. The main cause of low wheat yield in Nepal is the improper and inadequate use of fertilizer devoid of site specific nutrient management practices. Therefore, a farmers' field experiment was conducted during November 2015 to April 2016 to rectify the best fertilizer management options at two sites of Damak and Gauradaha in Jhapa district in eastern-Terai of Nepal using Nutrient Expert ® -Wheat model. The research was accomplished in Randomized Complete Block Design with 2 treatments and 20 replications, considering farmers' field as replication. Two treatments included in the experimentation were NE ® (Nutrient Expert Recommendation) and FFP (Farmer's Fertilizer Practices). The statistical result revealed the highly significant difference in terms of number of effective tiller m À2 , plant height, filled grain per spike, spike length, grain, straw and biological yields and harvest index. The highest yield (4.71 tonne ha À1 ) was obtained from NE field than FFP (2.99 tonne ha À1 ). On an average, NE based practices produced 58 % higher yield in comparison to FFP. NE based treatment produced significantly higher biomass yield, yield attributes and cost-benefit ratio than FFP treatments. Field experiment validation confirmed that the Nutrient Expert ® Wheat model could be used as the most adoptable and practical precision decision support system tool to make a more authentic fertilizer recommendation in eastern-Terai of Nepal.
A field experiment on different maize cultivars planted at different sowing dates were accomplished at Kawasoti-5, Nawalparasi during spring season of 2013 to find suitable sowing date and maize cultivar for the location. Along with this, effect of sowing dates and maize cultivars on different agro-climatic indices were also calculated using formulas. Result showed that RML- 4/RML-17 produced higher kernel rows ear-1 (13.77), kernel per row (30.42) and test weight (244.9 g). Significantly higher grain yield was also found for RML-4/RML-17 (6.03 tha-1) compared to Poshilo makai-1 (4.73 t ha-1), Arun-2 (3.55 t ha-1) and Local (2.92 t ha-1). Earlier sowing date (7th April) produced higher kernel row-1 (27.97), kernel rows ear-1 (12.89) and 1000 grain weight (230 g). Significantly higher grain yield (5.13t ha-1) was obtained in earlier sowing date (7th April). Although the mean ambient temperature during research period was increasing with delayed sowing, days to attain different phenological stages decreased with late sowing. The statistically similar GDD was recorded for different sowing dates and higher PTI values were noticed with delay in planting. Similarly, heat use efficiency (HUE) was found higher in early sowing date. Arun-2 had small reduction in HUE so, it can be considered stable and best cultivar among the tested cultivars.
Agro-meteorological indices are the major yield governing factors especially under rainfed ecosystem. The major agro-meteorological indices (phenology, and heat and radiation use efficiencies) of four wheat cultivars were evaluated from the rainfed field experiment (2008-09). The experiment was conducted in RCBD with three replications. The total rainfall received during the winter season (1994-95 to 2008-09) showed satisfactory winter rainfall during wheat growing season except year 2008-09. The agro-meteorological results indicated that the number of days required to attain different phenological stages were comparatively longer in early sowing than the late sown wheat. None of the wheat cultivars could show stable yield in late planting conditions suggesting early planting for higher yield. Early sowing wheat achived the higher and stable heat, radiation and heliothermal indices thus resulting into higher grain yield. The agro-meteorological indices could therefore be helpful in predicting the phenology, growth and yields of wheat. However, more research is needed in other agro-ecological areas to validate the output further.
With the aim of developing crop management technologies that reduce the yield gap of maize (Zea mays L.) in Nepal, a study was carried-out to determine whether the grain yield of maize could be manipulated through tillage, residue, and nutrient and weed management practices. The effect of tillage (conventional and no tillage), residue (residue retained and residue removed), fertilizer (recommended doses of fertilizer and farmers' doses of fertilizer) and weed management practices (herbicide use and manual weeding) on phenology and grain yield of maize were investigated under maize-rice cropping system in Rampur, Nepal during 2013. The experimental results revealed that no tillage had significant effect on grain yield (6.64 Mg ha-1) and phenological parameters like days to silking, physiological maturity and seed fill duration. Similarly, residue retained treatment had significant effect on grain yield (7.02 Mg ha-1) and phenological parameters. Research dose of fertilizer had significant effect on phenological parameters and grain yield (8.42 Mg ha-1). However, weed management factor did not influence significantly on grain yield and phenological parameters. The grain yield increased in no tillage by 23.19% over conventional tillage, residue retained by 39.84% over residue removed, recommended doses of fertilizer by 132.60% over farmer dose of fertilizer. Thus, no tillage, residue retention, recommended doses of fertilizer and use of herbicide for weed management can be alternative technologies for sustainable higher grain yield.
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