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A field experiment was conducted, to evaluate the yield and yield attributes of drought tolerant rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties under different planting geometry in Narayani-7, Nawalparasi, Nepal from May to November, 2014. The experiment was carried out in two factor Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications consisting three rice varieties (Sukhadhan-4, Sukhadhan-5 and Radha-4) and four planting geometry (15 cm × 10 cm, 15 cm × 15 cm, 20 cm × 15 cm and 20 cm × 20 cm). The results revealed that the highest grain yield (6.5 t ha-1) was obtained from planting geometry 20 cm ×15 cm with highest number of effective tillers m-2 (342.6) and highest harvest index (44.8%) while, number of filled grains panicle-1 and panicle length was found statistically at par with 20 cm × 20 cm and 20 cm × 15 cm planting geometry. However, the straw yield and test weight were non-significant with different planting geometry. Regarding tested varieties, Sukhadhan-5 produced highest grain yield (6.1 t ha-1) with highest number of effective tillers (337 m-2), more number of filled grain panicle-1 (144) and more harvest index (44%) compared to other tested varieties in the experiment. The Sukhadhan-4 recorded the longest panicle (28.5 cm) while Radha-4 produced significantly highest straw yield (8.1 t ha-1). Thus, Sukhadhan-5 with planting geometry 20 cm × 15 cm found more economical and profitable to grow in rainfed lowland ecosystem in Terai and inner Terai areas of Nepal.

A field experiment was conducted at Chitwan, Nepal to evaluate the effects of manure and irrigation application on soil nutrients content, water use efficiency and maize productivity. The experiment was laid out in a factorial complete randomized block design with three replications. The treatments were consisted of two manure levels: no manure and manure with fertilizer based on 120 kg ha-1 nitrogen recommended. Similarly, another factor was irrigation water application with five levels which were control (no irrigation) and irrigation applications of 300, 600, 900 and 1200 mm during growing period. The manure application significantly affected the total nitrogen (0.13%) and available phosphorus (37.5 kg ha-1) content in the soil. Interestingly, different irrigation treatments enhanced soil nutrient content differently except soil nitrogen. Similarly, the highest grain yield was observed on 1200 mm irrigation which corresponded to 169% increment over control irrigation treatment but not significant with 600 and 900mm irrigation. The 1200 mm irrigation showed the lowest irrigation water use efficiency (IWUE) (5.96 kg ha-1 mm-1), while 300 mm irrigation showed maximum (18.37 kg ha-1 mm-1) followed by 600 mm irrigation (7.04 kg ha-1 mm-1) based on grain yield. In conclusion, it seems that 600 mm irrigation treatments are quite suitable for the maize production in spring season with benefits of increasing IWUE and saving water around 50% of water which will help in growing more areas and in managing the limited water resources in Chitwan, Nepal.