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To investigate the effects of fertilization, tillage, and their interaction on maize yield, an experiment on rice-maize was conducted on 2018/19 and 2019/20 at Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU), Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal. The experiment was in a split-plot with two establishment methods viz. (i) zero tillage followed after (fa) conventionally tilled dry direct seeded rice (ZT fa CT-DDSR) (ii) conventional tillage fa puddled transplanted rice (CT fa Pu-TPR) and four nutrient management practices, i.e. (i) recommended dose (100% RDF; 180-90-60 N-P2O5-K2O kg ha-1), (ii) Residue retention of rice crop @ 5 t ha-1 + 75% RDF (RR +75% RDF), (iii) Nutrient expert (NE) dose (150-50-90 N-P2O5-K2O kg ha-1), (iv) Rice residue @ 3.5 t ha-1 +75% RDF followed after brown/green manuring of Sesbania in rice (R+75% RDF fa BM/GM) and the treatments were replicated thrice. The data on yield and yield attributes were recorded and analyzed by R studio. Both crop establishment methods and nutrient management practices did not influence (p>0.05) the plant population, number of cobs per plant, number of grains per cob, thousand-grain weight, and sterility. The barrenness percentage was not significantly affected by the crop establishment methods but significantly (p>0.05) lower under residue retained treatments. Application of NE dose, sterility was significantly (p0.05) for both crop establishment methods whereas application of NE dose, RR+75% RDF, and R+75% RDF fa BM/GM resulted in significantly (p

A field experiment on “Performance of hybrid maize under different levels of nitrogen and plant population” was conducted in Randomized complete block design (RCBD) at the research farm of the National Maize Research Program (NMRP), Rampur, Chitwan during the winter season of 2015/16 to determine the optimum level of nitrogen and plant population for winter season hybrid maize. The grain yield (2.38 Mt ha-1) obtained in control without nitrogen was significantly lower in comparison to its all other levels (70, 140 and 210 Kg N ha-1). Moreover, grain yield (5.45 Mt ha-1) produced by the application 210 Kg N ha-1 was significantly superior over 70 Kg N ha-1 (3.83 Mt ha-1) but remained at par with 140 Kg N ha-1 (5.02 Mt ha-1) which also differed significantly. Moreover, the grain yield (4.98 Mt ha-1) recorded with the population of 101010 plants ha-1 was significantly superior over 55,555 (3.34 Mt ha-1) and 69,444 (3.90 Mt ha-1) plants ha-1 but similar to that of 85,470 plants ha-1 (4.46 Mt ha-1) which was also significantly higher as compared to 69,444 and 55,555 plants ha-1 which were at par with each other. Regression analysis for the effect of nitrogen and plant population on grain yield showed the grain yield was 145 Kg N ha-1 and plant population was 87445 plants ha-1. Thus, hybrid maize (RML95/RML96) can be successfully grown by applying 145 Kg N ha-1 and maintaining a population of 87 thousand plants ha-1 to achieve a higher grain yield during the winter season.

A field trial was conducted at Fulbari, Chitwan in 2017 to evaluate the growth, productivity and economics of rice production under different nutrient management practices. Trial was laid out in a split-plot design with five replications. The main plot factor consisted of two rice varieties (Radha-4; improved variety and Arize Tej Gold; a popular Hybrid) and subplot factor consisted of five different nutrient management practices farmers’ applied dose (FAD;0-20:0-15:0-18 NPK kg ha-1), government recommended dose (GRD; 100:30:30 NPK kg ha-1), NARC recommended dose (NRD; 120:60:40 NPK kg ha-1), LCC based N and NE® based P, K dose (LCC-N+NE-P,K; 90-115:5-22:17-50 NPK kg ha-1 for Radha-4 and 90-140:5-36:38-73 NPK kg ha-1 for Arize Tej Gold), Nutrient Expert® based NPK dose (NED; 93-109:5-22:17-50 NPK kg ha-1 for Radha-4 and 118-125:5-36:38-73 NPK kg ha-1 for Arize Tej Gold). Data regarding biometrical, phenological, and yield attributes were recorded at regular intervals. Results revealed that different nutrient management practices had a significant influence on growth, yield attributes, and yield of rice. Number of effective tillers per square meter (215.62), number of grains per panicle (132.52), panicle length (27.02 cm) was recorded higher in LCC-N+NE-P, K. Similarly, a number of grains per panicle and panicle length in LCC-N+NE-P, K were statistically similar to NED. Significantly higher grain yield (5.19 Mt ha-1) and straw yield (6.43 Mt ha-1) were recorded in LCC-N+NE-P, K compared to FAD but statistically similar to NED. Higher Benefit-cost (B:C) ratio (2.41) was obtained in LCC-N + NE – P, K which was statistically similar to FAD and NED. Thus, the combined use of LCC and Nutrient Expert software for nutrient management in rice was found productive and profitable in western Chitwan.

With the aim of identifying the appropriate doses of Zinc in rice for different varieties under various establishment methods, an experiment was carried out in a strip-split plot design with three replications at Agriculture and Forestry University, Rampur, Chitwan during 2015-16. The treatment consists of two crop establishment methods (Transplanted rice (TPR) and Direct Seeded Rice (DSR)) in the vertical strip and two varieties (Hybrid Gorakhnath-509 and Sabitri) in the horizontal strip and four levels of ZnSO4 (0, 15, 30 and 45 kg ha-1) in sub-sub plot. The observations were recorded on growth, yield attributes, grain yield and economics. The research results revealed that the application of ZnSO4 @ 15 Kg ha-1 significantly increased the grain yield of DSR as compared to the non-application of ZnSO4. The higher grain yield of rice was because of increased yield attributes like effective tillers, thousand-grain weight and the number of filled grains per panicle. Crop establishment methods and varieties did not have a significant influence on the grain yield of rice. DSR had a lower cost of cultivation, higher net return and higher benefit-cost ratio as compared to TPR. The variety Sabitri had lower cost of cultivation, higher net return and higher benefit-cost ratio as compared to Gorakhnath-509. Similarly, the application of ZnSO4 @ of 15 Kg ha-1 produced the highest net return and the highest benefit-cost ratio. Therefore, ZnSO4 @ 15 kg ha-1 could be an option for increased yield and net return for DSR in Chitwan.

Grain yield under dry direct seeded rice (DDSR) is primarily limited due to weeds. Therefore, a field experiment was conducted at Rampur, Chitwan during the monsoon season, of 2014. The treatments consisted of two methods of seedbed preparation in the main plot and six weed management methods in the sub-plot arranged in split plot design with four replications. Results revealed that the grain yield of dry-direct seeded rice did not vary due to seedbed preparation methods. However, weedy check treatments reduced more than 92.78 % of grain yield of dry-direct seeded rice compared to weed-free check. The herbicidal treatments were found to be superior for the benefit-cost ratio. Pendimethalin fb Bispyribac sodium recorded the highest net returns of NRs 68.73 thousand ha-1 and the benefit-cost ratio of 2.55. Sequential application of Pendimethalin followed by Bispyribac sodium was proved to be the most efficient weed management method for dry-direct seeded rice.

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the productivity of rice (Oryza sativa L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) through nitrogen management practices under conservation and conventional agriculture practices during 2012-2013 at Chitwan, Nepal. The experiment on rice was conducted in strip[1]split plot design with two establishment methods (conservation agriculture and conventional practices), two rice varieties (improved variety Sabitri and hybrid Gorakhnath 509), and four nitrogen levels (0, 60, 120, and 180 kg/ha). The experiment on wheat was conducted in a split-plot design with two establishment methods and four nitrogen levels as in rice with Gautam variety. The research result revealed that the grain yield of the rice-wheat system was higher in conservation agriculture (6.6 t/ha). Gorakhnath 509 of rice followed by Gautam variety of wheat had a higher system grain yield (6.8 t/ha) than Sabitri followed by Gautam (6.5 t/ha). The highest system grain yield was obtained from 180 N kg/ha (8.1 t/ha) which was significantly higher than 0 and 60 N kg/ha but was statistically similar to 120 N kg/ha. Thus, in Chitwan and similar niches, the rice-wheat system either Sabitri followed by Gautam or Gorakhnath 509 followed by Gautam variety under conservation agriculture practices by applying 120 N kg/ha can be successfully grown by the farmers.

To improve the yield of spring season maize in the inner terai of Nepal, the effect of increasing fertilizer levels for increasing planting densities on growth, yield attributes, and yield of open-pollinated maize variety were analyzed through the field experimentation in 2019. The treatments included factorial combinations of three planting densities, (a) 55556/ha, (b) 66667/ha, and (c) 83333/ha; and four fertilizers levels (research-based recommendation i.e., 120:60:40 N:P2O5:K2O kg/ha, 144:72:48 N:P2O5:K2O kg/ha, 180:90:60 N:P2O5:K2O kg/ha, and site-specific nutrient management (SSNM) based nutrient expert model recommendation i.e., 140:40:40 N:P2O5:K2O kg/ha) arranged in a split-plot design with three replications. Data on growth, yield attributes, and yield were analyzed by using R Studio. Growth was higher under the highest planting density and higher fertilizer levels applied treatments. The higher (p

Among different factors, tillage and weed management are two important factors that influence remarkably the growth and yield of maize. The present review reveals that Echinochloa colona L. is the most dominant weed species with an importance value index (IVI) of 41 followed by Papaver rhoeas L. (32.6), Descurainia Sophia L. (22.27) and Polygonum aviculare L (16.16) in no-till maize. Wider spacing and initial slow growth of maize during the first 3-4 weeks provides enough opportunity for weeds to invade and offer severe competition, resulting in 60-81% in maize yield losses. The shift of the weed population towards perennial was observed under NT. Species like Xanthium strumarium, Solanum nigrum, Euphorbia helioscopia, Convolvulus arvensis, Sorghum halepense, Digitaria sanguinalis, Sonchus oleraceus and Euphorbia vermiculata were associated with no-till Zea mays. The highest weed seed density was found in conservation agriculture practices (no-tillage, no-fertilizer and no-herbicide use) with the highest seed distributed in 0-1 cm depth followed by 1-3 cm depth. Weed control efficiency of Nicosulfuron @0.90 kg/ha was found the highest (98.8%) followed by Atrazine + Tembotrione + Atrazine (@1 kg/ha + 120 g/ha + 0.5 kg/ha) (98.7%) and Tembotrione + atrazine (@ 120 g/ha + 0.5 kg/ha) (96.5%), therefore were very effective in controlling weed in no-till Zea mays.

A field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of tillage and nutrient management practices on the performance of subsequent wheat and maize in the rice-based cropping system at Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU), Rampur, Chitwan, Nepal during November 2018-May 2019. The experiment was executed in a split-plot for evaluating two establishment methods viz. (i) zero tillage followed after (fa) conventionally tilled dry direct seeded rice ( ZT fa CT-DDSR) (ii) conventional tillage followed after puddled transplanted rice (CT fa Pu-TPR) and four nutrient management practices, i.e. (i) recommended dose (100% RDF; 80:60:40 and 180:90:60 N:P2O5:K2O kg/ha for wheat and maize respectively), (ii) Residue retention of rice crop @ 5 t/ha + 75% RDF (RR +75% RDF), (iii) Nutrient expert (NE) dose (140:60:45; 150:50:90 N:P2O5:K2O kg/ha for wheat and maize respectively), (iv) Rice residue @ 3.5 t/ha +75% RDF of each crop followed after brown/green manuring of Sesbania in rice (R+75% RDF fa BM/GM) and the treatments were replicated thrice. The data on yield (rice equivalent yield), yield attributes, and economics were recorded and analyzed by R studio. The study revealed that none of the yield attributes and rice equivalent yield of wheat were significantly influenced by the tillage methods but maize had significantly higher number of grains per cob under CT fa Pu-TPR and significantly higher (8.9%) yield under ZT fa CT-DDSR. NE assisted nutrient management practice produced significantly a greater number of spike (281.9 per m2 ) and grains per spike (44.5 and higher straw yield (5.9 t/ha) for wheat crop and also showed better performance for maize as well. Maize had yield advantage of 21% and 14% when planted after BM/GM practices in rice and residue mulched condition respectively. The rice equivalent yield of wheat was 21% and 16% more under NE dose and R+75% RDF fa BM/GM respectively compared to 100% RDF. NE dose was the most profitable in terms of B:C ratio for both the wheat (1.9) and maize (3.0). Hence, tillage methods were indifferent for wheat but ZT fa CT-DDSR was significantly productive for maize and NE dose was the best nutrient management practice for better productivity and profitability for the wheat and maize in the rice-based cropping system in inner Terai of Nepal.

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L), grown under traditional practices becoming less productive and less profitable in Nepal, due to ever-increasing input prices and intensive land preparation. A field experiment was conducted to find alternate practices for enhancing productivity of wheat at the National Wheat Research Program, Bhairahawa during the winter season of 2018/19 and 2019/20. The experiment plot was designed on strip-split plot design with 3 replications. Three tillage methods, surface seeding (SS), zero tillage (ZT), and conventional tillage (CT) were assigned in vertical strips with two levels of crop residue management: residue removed (R0) and residue retention (R50) in horizontal blocks, whereas three levels of nutrient management: recommended dose of NPK (F100), 25% higher dose of NPK (F125) and farmer’s practice (FP) were assigned in subplots. Data regarding growth, yield attributes, and yield were recorded and analyzed by Genstat. In the first year, ZT was better in terms of number of tillers at maximum tillering stage, maximum leaf area index, effective tiller per square meter, number of grain per spike, and straw yield compared to SS and CT; whereas in the second year SS was better in terms of growth, yield attributes and yield as compared to ZT and CT. In the first year, R(0) produced significantly higher straw yield but significantly lower harvest index (HI) than R(50) whereas in second year R(50) produced significantly higher thousand grain weight, grain yield and HI. The application of 25% more nutrients than the recommended dose resulted significantly better most of the growth, yield attributes, and yield during both years. On the average of two years, ZT produced more yield than CT and SS by 26.6% and 3.0% respectively. The short term ZT significantly increased the bulk density as compared to SS and CT. Based on the research results, it can be suggested that the traditional practices of wheat can be replaced by ZT with retention of previous crop residues and the application of 25% more nutrients than the recommended dose.